😐A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,078 in Maltepe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,662 in Maltepe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $2,247 in Maltepe, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 38% more than Maltepe, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Maltepe is 19% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$11.34₺512
14.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$29.84₺1,347
77.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.16₺278
57.79%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.38₺107
57.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.02₺46.12
53.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.37₺16.64
205.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.09₺94.4
52.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.55₺115
82.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.00₺45.24
62.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.68₺30.78
298.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.25₺102
-16.44%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.25₺102
11.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.24₺417
9.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.98₺225
66.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$19.76₺892
-39.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.51₺68.2
89.40%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.17₺98.1
-19.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.28₺57.9
62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.58₺71.3
24.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.70₺31.48
208.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.67₺30.28
225.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.66₺29.68
110.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.58₺25.97
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.17₺98.0
93.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$11.27₺509
26.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.24₺101
-21.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.07₺139
19.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.62₺27.92
-37.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$31.06₺1,402
-39.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.06₺47.80
31.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.59₺26.48
-49.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$8.69₺392
-37.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.15₺52.0
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$46.2K₺2.1M
-59.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$43.1K₺1.9M
-46.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$62.1₺2,802
-34.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$11.21₺506
145.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$12.71₺574
139.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$43.33₺1,956
23.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.48₺338
-16.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$940₺42.4K
-53.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$6,129₺276.7K
70.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$40.64₺1,834
39.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$46.12₺2,082
-2.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$58.2₺2,628
76.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$107₺4,834
0.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$506₺22.8K
97.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$390₺17.6K
59.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$891₺40.2K
139.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$712₺32.1K
73.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,294₺58.4K
198.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$924₺41.7K
152.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Maltepe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
32
-64.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Maltepe: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $506 in Maltepe. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $30.00 in Maltepe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $233 – making Maltepe 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 Maltepe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maltepe cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 38%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,617 in Maltepe. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maltepe, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Maltepe?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Maltepe?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $30.00 in Maltepe. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Maltepe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Maltepe, where all-in costs run around $1,078, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Maltepe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Maltepe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Maltepe – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Maltepe?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Maltepe. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared