😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $934 in Gracanica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,463 in Gracanica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,993 in Gracanica.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 57% more expensive than Gracanica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Gracanica is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$6.89BAM 11.58
91.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$34.95BAM 58.7
54.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.50BAM 9.23
71.27%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.68BAM 2.83
111.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.84BAM 3.09
-11.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$1.19BAM 2.00
-6.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.42BAM 4.07
28.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.09BAM 3.51
121.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.41BAM 2.37
20.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.33BAM 2.23
104.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$2.38BAM 4.00
-19.75%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.89BAM 4.85
-12.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.25BAM 17.22
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$7.23BAM 12.15
11.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$13.50BAM 22.68
-13.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.24BAM 2.09
139.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.66BAM 2.80
9.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.93BAM 3.24
4.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.72BAM 2.89
18.02%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$0.80BAM 1.34
165.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.74BAM 1.24
206.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.92BAM 1.54
52.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.02BAM 1.71
10.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$3.51BAM 5.89
21.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$8.17BAM 13.73
90.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.26BAM 2.11
39.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.07BAM 3.47
73.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$1.79BAM 3.01
-78.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$35.51BAM 59.7
-45.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$1.81BAM 3.03
-23.76%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.78BAM 1.31
-64.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$10.78BAM 18.11
-49.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.50BAM 2.52
-13.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$23.9KBAM 40.2K
-21.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$26.8KBAM 45.0K
-13.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$124BAM 208
-66.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$18.84BAM 31.66
42.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$28.45BAM 47.79
5.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$28.92BAM 48.59
79.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$11.03BAM 18.53
143.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$5.71BAM 9.60
10.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$151BAM 253
189.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$3,279BAM 5,510
217.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$71.2BAM 120
-20.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$35.37BAM 59.4
25.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$97.3BAM 163
5.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$119BAM 200
-11.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$260BAM 437
292.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$171BAM 287
269.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$357BAM 600
497.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$314BAM 527
296.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$2,754BAM 4,627
41.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$2,004BAM 3,367
3.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$600BAM 1,008
85.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.14
173.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Gracanica: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $260 in Gracanica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 86% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Gracanica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $235 per month, with Gracanica 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 Gracanica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gracanica cheaper than Mexico City?
Gracanica is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 57% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Gracanica?
Mexico City pays 86% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Gracanica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $260 in Gracanica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $151 in Gracanica. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Gracanica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 23% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Gracanica?
At $934 in Gracanica versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gracanica but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Gracanica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Gracanica more family-friendly?
For families, Gracanica is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Gracanica?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Gracanica are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gracanica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 57% 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