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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $1,275 in Iasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,920 in Iasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $2,564 in Iasi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 30% more than Iasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Iasi is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$11.03 RON 50.6

8.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$43.78 RON 201

17.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$7.58 RON 34.78

50.53%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$3.09 RON 14.18

29.13%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.12 RON 9.72

-21.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.83 RON 8.38

-27.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$3.32 RON 15.21

4.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.86 RON 17.71

52.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.60 RON 7.32

17.50%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$1.41 RON 6.45

130.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$2.11 RON 9.69

2.37%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$3.46 RON 15.88

-16.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$8.31 RON 38.11

54.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$6.37 RON 29.21

57.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$10.13 RON 46.48

56.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$1.39 RON 6.36

136.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.69 RON 7.77

18.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$1.73 RON 7.92

27.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$2.25 RON 10.33

4.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$0.88 RON 4.02

132.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$0.94 RON 4.33

102.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.22 RON 5.59

31.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$1.04 RON 4.75

34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$6.47 RON 29.69

-15.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$6.46 RON 29.63

173.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.40 RON 6.45

47.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$2.14 RON 9.82

118.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.86 RON 3.95

-60.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$28.18 RON 129

-26.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$0.87 RON 3.98

141.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$0.91 RON 4.16

-38.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$8.88 RON 40.73

-34.57%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.84 RON 8.44

-12.50%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$29.5K RON 135.5K

-22.65%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$28.1K RON 128.8K

-4.70%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$65.2 MX$1,124

$191 RON 875

-65.82%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.09 MX$519

$7.41 RON 33.98

306.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$8.89 RON 40.78

318.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$46.83 RON 215

27.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$16.46 RON 75.5

61.30%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$8.56 RON 39.28

-17.76%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,012

$416 RON 1,907

11.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$7,400 RON 34.0K

79.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$77.4 RON 355

-1.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$40.07 RON 184

39.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$96.0 RON 441

16.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$94.7 RON 434

27.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$555 RON 2,545

98.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$449 RON 2,062

60.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$926 RON 4,247

173.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$692 RON 3,175

86.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$2,950 RON 13.5K

35.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$1,976 RON 9,065

5.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$1,152 RON 5,284

-9.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

7.18

57.38%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Iasi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $555 in Iasi. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 11% higher in Iasi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $44.00 in Iasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $221 – making Iasi 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 Iasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City, $1,275 in Iasi – roughly 30% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,913 in Iasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Iasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 35% less in Iasi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $465 per month in Mexico City and $416 in Iasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Iasi, where all-in costs run around $1,275, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Iasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,275 in Iasi to $1,660 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Iasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.