Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Dealu

For one person, living is cheaper in Dealu: $1,041 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $6,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Dealu, Romania
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Dealu
🇷🇴 Romania
$1,041
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Dealu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Dealu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $1,041 in Dealu.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Dealu $1,041

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $1,724 in Dealu.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Dealu $1,724

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $2,407 in Dealu.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Dealu $2,407

Living in Mexico City is roughly 54% more expensive than in Dealu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Dealu is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$199
$14.16 RON 68.1
-25.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$904
$84.5 RON 406
-42.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$8.18 RON 39.31
26.53%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$69.0
$1.94 RON 9.35
90.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.14
$2.03 RON 9.77
-17.73%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.65
$1.90 RON 9.11
-33.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.7
$2.49 RON 11.95
28.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$99.2
$3.23 RON 15.55
64.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.23
$1.77 RON 8.49
-2.82%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.8
$1.35 RON 6.47
125.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.27
$1.66 RON 7.97
16.87%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$54.0
$4.44 RON 21.33
-34.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$8.48 RON 40.75
29.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$173
$5.54 RON 26.61
66.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$283
$9.98 RON 48.00
51.60%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$57.0
$1.11 RON 5.32
174.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.27
$1.48 RON 7.12
31.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.85
$1.57 RON 7.53
29.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.25
$2.58 RON 12.41
-10.47%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$38.03
$0.72 RON 3.45
183.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.63
$0.68 RON 3.29
164.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.64
$0.75 RON 3.62
97.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.69
$0.81 RON 3.90
56.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$99.1
$5.25 RON 25.24
0.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$301
$6.25 RON 30.05
157.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$37.06
$1.46 RON 7.00
35.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.5
$1.94 RON 9.33
119.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.70
$0.76 RON 3.67
-59.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$369
$21.52 RON 103
-8.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.34
$0.71 RON 3.40
159.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.97
$0.68 RON 3.26
-22.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$99.0
$6.79 RON 32.63
-21.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.23
$1.88 RON 9.04
-19.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$406.5K
$28.9K RON 139.0K
-24.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$448.2K
$28.2K RON 135.6K
-14.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,177
$104 RON 501
-39.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$512
$10.82 RON 52.0
153.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$666
$4.75 RON 22.86
650.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,101
$37.71 RON 181
56.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$442
$20.38 RON 98.0
16.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$120
$10.46 RON 50.3
-38.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,065
$589 RON 2,831
-26.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$213.5K
$6,936 RON 33.3K
64.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,275
$58.1 RON 279
17.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$993
$33.95 RON 163
56.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,014
$125 RON 600
-13.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,191
$105 RON 506
11.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$391 RON 1,880
184.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.3K
$282 RON 1,354
152.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.4K
$598 RON 2,877
332.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.3K
$439 RON 2,110
220.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.8K
$1,851 RON 8,898
96.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.9K
$1,341 RON 6,449
59.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Dealu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
6.97
62.84%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dealu: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Dealu
$282 60.4% $429
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Dealu
$212 33.6% $107
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Dealu
$196 1.4% $2.8
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Dealu
$145 7% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Dealu
$120 5% $6.3
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Dealu
$59 18.3% $13
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Dealu
$29 12.6% $3.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $391 in Dealu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $84 in Dealu. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $212, with Dealu cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇷🇴 Dealu
🕒 Local time
10:07 10:07 AM
18:07 6:07 PM
8 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
3,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

RON, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.69 MXN (100 MXN = 5.35 USD). 1 EUR = 20.8 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Romanian Leu exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 4.81 RON (1 RON = 0.208 USD). 1 EUR = 5.35 RON (1 RON = 0.187 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Dealu 10,820 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Dealu

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Dealu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dealu cheaper than Mexico City?
Dealu is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, utilities, and leisure. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $2,412 in Mexico City and $1,562 in Dealu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Dealu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $391 in Dealu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Dealu?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $48 versus $84 in Dealu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Dealu?
All in, you’ll spend $1,608 per month in Mexico City versus $1,041 in Dealu – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Dealu?
At $1,041 in Dealu versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dealu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Dealu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Mexico City or in Dealu?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

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