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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $1,304 in Kretinga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $2,036 in Kretinga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $2,768 in Kretinga.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 12% more expensive than Kretinga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Kretinga is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30 MX$231
$11.49 €9.80
15.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$932
$70.1 €59.8
-23.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$7.09 €6.05
32.86%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$3.02 €2.58
18.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.14 €1.83
-24.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$1.92 €1.63
-41.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$5.13 €4.38
-36.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 MX$80.6
$5.06 €4.32
-8.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$1.38 €1.18
18.84%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 MX$46.00
$1.57 €1.34
68.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.99
$2.05 €1.75
-4.39%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.08
$2.88 €2.46
-11.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 MX$173
$10.66 €9.09
-6.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$145
$5.33 €4.55
57.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 MX$205
$9.99 €8.52
18.42%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.62
$1.40 €1.20
104.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.05
$1.67 €1.42
3.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.50
$1.78 €1.52
11.80%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.51
$3.17 €2.71
-35.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$0.76 €0.65
171.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 MX$39.54
$0.99 €0.84
130.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.05
$1.53 €1.31
-5.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.83
$0.87 €0.74
25.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$5.59 €4.77
-23.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 MX$254
$9.03 €7.70
62.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.58
$1.72 €1.47
2.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 MX$61.8
$1.81 €1.55
97.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.67
$1.14 €0.97
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.73 MX$325
$33.09 €28.23
-43.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.09
$3.16 €2.70
-56.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.26
$1.11 €0.95
-72.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$93.8
$13.89 €11.85
-61.05%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.22
$1.62 €1.38
-17.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$326.7K
$35.1K €30.0K
-46.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.0K
$29.4K €25.1K
-21.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.30 MX$698
$209 €179
-80.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15 MX$471
$13.91 €11.86
95.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$510
$14.44 €12.32
104.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 MX$914
$41.75 €35.61
26.32%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17 MX$454
$22.86 €19.50
14.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$107
$9.27 €7.91
-33.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$441 MX$7,637
$457 €390
-3.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.4K
$9,428 €8,042
13.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$992
$87.1 €74.3
-34.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 MX$781
$42.83 €36.53
5.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,793
$84.6 €72.1
22.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,884
$133 €114
-18.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.3K
$523 €446
91.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 MX$11.0K
$358 €306
76.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 MX$37.1K
$847 €722
152.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 MX$21.7K
$647 €552
93.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,745 MX$64.9K
$2,664 €2,273
40.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,381 MX$41.3K
$1,624 €1,386
46.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kretinga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,079 MX$18.7K
$1,177 €1,004
-8.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.13
174.58%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Last update for Kretinga: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $523 in Kretinga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kretinga pays 9% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $70 in Kretinga. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $229, with Kretinga 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 Kretinga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kretinga cheaper than Mexico City?
Kretinga is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Kretinga?
On paper, Kretinga earns 9% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Kretinga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $523 in Kretinga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kretinga runs roughly 77% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $457 in Kretinga. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Kretinga?
At $1,304 in Kretinga versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kretinga but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kretinga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Kretinga more family-friendly?
For families, Kretinga 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 Kretinga?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kretinga 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 Kretinga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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