😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $1,429 in Kaštela.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $2,248 in Kaštela.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $3,067 in Kaštela.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 17% more expensive than in Kaštela, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City24% above, Kaštela6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$17.38€15.26
-30.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$934
$79.5€69.8
-33.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$9.33€8.19
25.29%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.4
$2.88€2.53
34.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$30.94
$4.10€3.60
-57.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.65
$3.03€2.66
-54.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.4
$4.93€4.32
-31.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$4.51€3.96
27.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$31.92
$1.35€1.19
34.07%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.5
$1.74€1.53
77.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.65
$3.21€2.82
-33.64%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.6
$4.12€3.62
-27.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$221
$13.93€12.23
-10.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$181
$9.58€8.41
6.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$281
$12.65€11.11
25.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$59.8
$1.92€1.69
76.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.24
$1.71€1.50
23.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.59
$2.00€1.76
6.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.61
$2.80€2.46
-11.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.03
$2.11€1.85
-3.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.59
$2.11€1.85
-4.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.15
$1.35€1.18
17.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.50
$1.41€1.24
-5.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.0
$5.87€5.15
-6.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$310
$7.82€6.87
124.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.61
$1.41€1.23
42.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.8
$1.47€1.29
222.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.94
$2.27€1.99
-85.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$373
$53.1€46.59
-60.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.28
$3.85€3.38
-46.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.75
$2.17€1.91
-71.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$30.52€26.79
-81.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.09
$1.92€1.69
-17.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$404.6K
$27.0K€23.7K
-15.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$466.2K
$24.9K€21.9K
5.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,135
$184€161
-65.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$520
$25.69€22.55
14.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$651
$41.95€36.82
-12.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,038
$57.4€50.4
2.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$469
$14.40€12.64
84.31%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$8.90€7.81
-21.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,180
$422€371
9.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$236.2K
$6,901€6,058
93.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,333
$97.3€85.4
-22.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$958
$27.86€24.46
94.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,965
$110€96.7
0.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,160
$98.6€86.5
23.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.0K
$498€437
127.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.3K
$350€307
99.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.2K
$594€521
311.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.0K
$548€481
137.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.1K
$3,370€2,958
16.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.6K
$2,493€2,188
-17.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kaštela
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.6K
$883€775
19.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.72
203.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Kaštela: September 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $498 in Kaštela. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 19% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $79.0 in Kaštela. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $288, with Kaštela cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kaštela: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Kaštela?
Mexico City and Kaštela differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $1,429 including rent). Kaštela is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Kaštela?
Average pay runs 19% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Kaštela?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $498 in Kaštela. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Kaštela?
A monthly transit pass in Kaštela runs roughly 152% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Kaštela?
Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $422 in Kaštela. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,429 in Kaštela versus $1,668 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaštela but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kaštela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Kaštela?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Kaštela safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kaštela are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Kaštela?
Expats usually find Kaštela gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% 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