😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $930 in Gracanica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,442 in Gracanica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,954 in Gracanica.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 57% more expensive than in Gracanica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Gracanica is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$7.22BAM 12.37
81.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$36.08BAM 61.8
48.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$5.49BAM 9.41
76.32%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.69BAM 2.90
121.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.78BAM 3.05
-8.99%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$1.15BAM 1.98
0.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$2.37BAM 4.06
36.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$2.05BAM 3.51
131.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.41BAM 2.41
17.02%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.38BAM 2.36
99.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$2.31BAM 3.95
-19.05%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.86BAM 4.90
-12.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$9.92BAM 16.98
2.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$7.27BAM 12.45
13.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$13.20BAM 22.60
-10.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.23BAM 2.10
144.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.67BAM 2.86
8.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.92BAM 3.29
4.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.75BAM 3.00
14.29%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.84BAM 1.44
147.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.68BAM 1.17
233.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.93BAM 1.59
56.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.95BAM 1.62
13.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.45BAM 5.90
26.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$8.30BAM 14.22
104.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.21BAM 2.08
42.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.05BAM 3.52
74.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.85BAM 3.16
-78.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$35.82BAM 61.4
-47.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$1.80BAM 3.08
-26.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.83BAM 1.42
-66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$10.51BAM 17.99
-50.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.43BAM 2.45
-6.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$23.6KBAM 40.4K
-17.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$26.1KBAM 44.7K
-8.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$124BAM 212
-67.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$18.98BAM 32.51
41.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$29.21BAM 50.0
4.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$29.86BAM 51.2
76.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$10.81BAM 18.52
146.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$5.47BAM 9.37
19.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$150BAM 257
184.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$3,333BAM 5,709
214.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$71.2BAM 122
-19.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$34.44BAM 59.0
32.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$97.3BAM 167
6.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$120BAM 205
-9.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$254BAM 435
294.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$170BAM 292
265.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$362BAM 619
483.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$313BAM 536
289.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$2,554BAM 4,374
52.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,821BAM 3,118
11.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Gracanica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$585BAM 1,002
77.42%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Gracanica: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $254 in Gracanica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 77% 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 $36.00 in Gracanica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $233 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?
Average pay runs 77% 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Gracanica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $254 in Gracanica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $150 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 in Gracanica?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% 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 living in Mexico City or in Gracanica?
At $930 in Gracanica versus $1,456 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