Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Leeuwarden

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,548 a month against $2,588 in Leeuwarden, rent and utilities included – about $12,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Leeuwarden
🇳🇱 Netherlands
$2,588
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Leeuwarden

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Leeuwarden actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,548 per month in Mexico City vs $2,588 in Leeuwarden, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Leeuwarden $2,588

A couple spends around $2,436 per month in Mexico City vs $3,825 in Leeuwarden, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Leeuwarden $3,825

A family of three spends $3,323 per month in Mexico City vs $5,063 in Leeuwarden, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Leeuwarden $5,063

Mexico City is about 40% cheaper than Leeuwarden, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Mexico City and Leeuwarden sit above the global median – Mexico City by 14%, Leeuwarden by 91%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$22.50 €20.01
-51.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$112 €99.2
-56.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$15.61 €13.88
-30.17%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$3.86 €3.44
-4.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$3.73 €3.32
-56.30%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$2.86 €2.54
-56.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$6.88 €6.12
-52.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$5.35 €4.75
3.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$1.16 €1.03
46.55%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.92 €1.71
57.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$2.44 €2.17
-21.31%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$4.37 €3.89
-37.53%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$12.73 €11.32
-7.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$14.38 €12.79
-33.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$16.29 €14.49
-11.54%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$2.32 €2.07
30.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$2.40 €2.13
-21.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$1.85 €1.65
7.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$5.25 €4.67
-58.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$1.72 €1.53
11.63%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$1.93 €1.72
-3.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$1.21 €1.08
19.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$0.91 €0.81
39.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$14.20 €12.63
-63.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$7.02 €6.24
130.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.88 €1.67
1.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$1.69 €1.50
149.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$3.29 €2.92
-89.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$127 €113
-84.55%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$8.78 €7.81
-77.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$3.98 €3.54
-86.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$51.0 €45.38
-89.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$2.41 €2.15
-36.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$41.7K €37.1K
-47.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$39.0K €34.7K
-37.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$369 €328
-83.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$43.01 €38.26
-33.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$45.83 €40.77
-24.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$37.73 €33.56
49.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$19.00 €16.90
30.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$16.54 €14.71
-59.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$1,353 €1,204
-68.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$22.5K €20.0K
-48.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$114 €102
-40.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$39.18 €34.85
32.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$130 €116
-18.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$136 €121
-17.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$1,351 €1,202
-24.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$1,028 €915
-36.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$3,851 €3,425
-40.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$1,612 €1,434
-22.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$3,638 €3,236
-0.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$3,248 €2,889
-40.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Leeuwarden
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$2,989 €2,658
-67.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.38
157.99%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Leeuwarden: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Leeuwarden
$1K 57.2% $374
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Leeuwarden
$328 3.2% $10
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Leeuwarden
$345 69% $141
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Leeuwarden
$189 24% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Leeuwarden
$458 269% $334
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Leeuwarden
$71 1.6% $1.1
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Leeuwarden
$169 560% $143

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,025 in Mexico City versus $1,351 in Leeuwarden. 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 210% higher in Leeuwarden, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Mexico City versus $112 in Leeuwarden. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $318 vs $328 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇳🇱 Leeuwarden
🕒 Local time
02:47 2:47 AM
10:47 10:47 AM
8 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
91,992
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Leeuwarden 9,240 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Leeuwarden

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Leeuwarden: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Leeuwarden?
Leeuwarden costs about 67% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from transport. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Leeuwarden?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,322 per month in Mexico City and $3,882 in Leeuwarden. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Leeuwarden?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Leeuwarden?
Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $1,353 in Leeuwarden. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Leeuwarden?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Leeuwarden, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Leeuwarden?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,548, than in Leeuwarden at $2,588. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Leeuwarden it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Leeuwarden?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,548 versus $2,588 in Leeuwarden. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Leeuwarden?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Leeuwarden?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Leeuwarden makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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