Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hella Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hella

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$12.98 MX$227
$27.19 ISK 3,329
-52.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$147 ISK 17.9K
-63.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$22.26 ISK 2,726
-56.33%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$6.27 ISK 768
-40.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$3.29 ISK 402
-52.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$2.50 ISK 306
-54.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$12.92 ISK 1,582
-75.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$11.32 ISK 1,386
-58.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.93 ISK 237
-16.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$4.36 ISK 534
-37.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$3.61 ISK 442
-47.92%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$6.31 ISK 773
-60.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$17.91 ISK 2,193
-43.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$23.63 ISK 2,893
-64.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$42.77 ISK 5,237
-72.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$3.24 ISK 396
-11.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$2.42 ISK 296
-27.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$3.11 ISK 381
-33.12%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$4.87 ISK 596
-59.55%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$3.64 ISK 446
-40.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$2.39 ISK 293
-8.79%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$3.07 ISK 376
-54.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$1.93 ISK 236
-41.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$13.41 ISK 1,642
-68.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$23.12 ISK 2,831
-38.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$3.64 ISK 445
-51.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$3.34 ISK 409
10.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$6.51 ISK 798
-78.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$2.52 ISK 308
-88.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$86.3 ISK 10.6K
-93.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$2.57 ISK 314
-47.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$48.2K ISK 5.9M
-60.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$52.7K ISK 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)
$40.82 MX$714
$89.3 ISK 10.9K
-54.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$27.34 ISK 3,347
0.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$87.0 ISK 10.6K
-65.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$17.63 ISK 2,159
-64.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$318 ISK 38.9K
37.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$30.6K ISK 3.7M
-65.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$141 ISK 17.3K
-59.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$60.6 ISK 7,420
-26.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$182 ISK 22.3K
-43.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$262 ISK 32.1K
-58.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hella
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$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.

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