😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,179 in Durres.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,788 in Durres.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,396 in Durres.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 41% more expensive than in Durres, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Durres is 14% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$10.60ALL 840
12.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$38.30ALL 3,037
34.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$10.50ALL 833
8.67%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$2.08ALL 165
91.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$2.05ALL 162
-19.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$1.03ALL 81.5
29.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$3.13ALL 248
10.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$4.50ALL 357
31.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$2.20ALL 175
-14.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$1.09ALL 86.8
198.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$2.38ALL 189
-9.24%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$3.97ALL 315
-26.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$12.95ALL 1,027
-0.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$7.93ALL 629
26.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$15.04ALL 1,193
5.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$1.18ALL 93.5
178.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$2.45ALL 194
-17.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$1.59ALL 126
38.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$1.34ALL 106
76.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$0.87ALL 69.2
135.63%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$0.96ALL 76.1
97.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.27ALL 101
26.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$0.72ALL 57.0
94.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$4.43ALL 351
23.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$11.44ALL 907
54.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$1.52ALL 120
35.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$2.09ALL 166
123.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$0.52ALL 41.43
-34.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$19.12ALL 1,516
8.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$3.79ALL 300
-44.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$2.55ALL 202
-78.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$2.26ALL 179
-28.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$16.1KALL 1.3M
42.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$98.0ALL 7,773
-33.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$17.04ALL 1,351
76.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$17.04ALL 1,351
118.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$41.99ALL 3,329
42.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
$61.9ALL 4,907
-57.10%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.51ALL 595
-6.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$188ALL 14.9K
147.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$4,691ALL 372.0K
182.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$39.91ALL 3,164
90.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$41.87ALL 3,320
33.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$90.8ALL 7,196
23.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$166ALL 13.1K
-27.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$459ALL 36.4K
140.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$342ALL 27.1K
110.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$716ALL 56.8K
253.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$472ALL 37.4K
174.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
$1,835ALL 145.5K
117.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
$1,155ALL 91.6K
80.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Durres
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$969ALL 76.8K
7.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.25
115.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Durres: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $459 in Durres. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $38.00 in Durres for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $269 per month, with Durres cheaper across the board.
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 Durres: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Durres?
Durres wins on cost – living expenses run 41% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Durres the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Durres?
Average pay runs 7% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Durres?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $459 in Durres. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Durres?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,179 in Durres – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Durres?
A monthly transit pass in Durres runs roughly 9% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Durres?
At $1,179 in Durres versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Durres but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Durres the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Durres?
Both work as nomad bases, but Durres delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,179 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Durres hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Durres gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared