🙂A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,637 in Hella, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $2,843 in Hella, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $4,048 in Hella, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 9% cheaper than Hella, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and Hella sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Hella by 22%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$27.19ISK 3,329
-52.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$147ISK 17.9K
-63.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$22.26ISK 2,726
-56.33%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$6.27ISK 768
-40.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$3.29ISK 402
-52.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$2.50ISK 306
-54.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$12.92ISK 1,582
-75.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$11.32ISK 1,386
-58.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.93ISK 237
-16.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$4.36ISK 534
-37.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$3.61ISK 442
-47.92%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$6.31ISK 773
-60.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$17.91ISK 2,193
-43.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$23.63ISK 2,893
-64.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$42.77ISK 5,237
-72.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.24ISK 396
-11.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.42ISK 296
-27.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$3.11ISK 381
-33.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$4.87ISK 596
-59.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$3.64ISK 446
-40.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$2.39ISK 293
-8.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$3.07ISK 376
-54.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.93ISK 236
-41.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$13.41ISK 1,642
-68.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$23.12ISK 2,831
-38.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$3.64ISK 445
-51.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.34ISK 409
10.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$6.51ISK 798
-78.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$2.52ISK 308
-88.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$86.3ISK 10.6K
-93.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$2.57ISK 314
-47.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$48.2KISK 5.9M
-60.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$52.7KISK 6.5M
-56.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$89.3ISK 10.9K
-54.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$27.34ISK 3,347
0.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$87.0ISK 10.6K
-65.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$17.63ISK 2,159
-64.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$318ISK 38.9K
37.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$30.6KISK 3.7M
-65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$141ISK 17.3K
-59.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$60.6ISK 7,420
-26.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$182ISK 22.3K
-43.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$262ISK 32.1K
-58.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.63
17.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Hella: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $147 in Hella. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $593 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Hella: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and Hella compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City, $1,637 in Hella – roughly 10% apart. Hella costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Hella?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $2,456 in Hella. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Hella?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $1,637 in Hella. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Hella?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $318 in Hella. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Hella at $1,637. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hella it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Hella?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,484 in Mexico City to $1,637 in Hella. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Hella?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hella makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared