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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $1,668 in Marsta, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $2,648 in Marsta, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $3,628 in Marsta, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 1% more than Marsta, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mexico City and Marsta sit above the global median – Mexico City by 22%, Marsta by 21%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$13.43 SEK 130
-9.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$69.0 SEK 669
-21.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$10.60 SEK 103
4.62%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$4.59 SEK 44.45
-10.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$2.06 SEK 19.94
-18.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$1.86 SEK 18.07
-25.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$7.20 SEK 69.8
-53.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$7.36 SEK 71.4
-20.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$1.77 SEK 17.17
4.52%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$3.22 SEK 31.19
-1.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$5.44 SEK 52.8
-61.95%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$3.69 SEK 35.79
-20.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$13.95 SEK 135
-9.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$9.55 SEK 92.6
5.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$18.03 SEK 175
-10.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$3.07 SEK 29.78
10.42%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$2.70 SEK 26.22
-22.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$2.05 SEK 19.84
3.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$3.76 SEK 36.43
-35.90%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$1.49 SEK 14.48
42.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$1.54 SEK 14.89
30.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$2.10 SEK 20.34
-26.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$1.96 SEK 18.98
-30.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$7.14 SEK 69.3
-19.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$10.36 SEK 100
71.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$2.01 SEK 19.50
2.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$2.22 SEK 21.53
107.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$3.48 SEK 33.78
-89.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$78.8 SEK 764
-73.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$13.78 SEK 134
-85.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$2.13 SEK 20.66
-72.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$59.3 SEK 575
-89.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$1.80 SEK 17.45
-13.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$34.5K SEK 334.4K
-33.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$34.6K SEK 335.5K
-21.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$62.3 SEK 604
8.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$26.80 SEK 260
14.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$41.31 SEK 401
-9.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$39.29 SEK 381
56.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$23.41 SEK 227
15.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$16.88 SEK 164
-57.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$226 SEK 2,188
102.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$5,212 SEK 50.5K
162.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$51.3 SEK 497
44.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$31.35 SEK 304
81.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$92.0 SEK 891
25.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$104 SEK 1,008
16.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$797 SEK 7,722
44.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$574 SEK 5,565
23.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$1,420 SEK 13.8K
81.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$1,117 SEK 10.8K
15.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$4,347 SEK 42.1K
-7.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$2,578 SEK 25.0K
-17.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Marsta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$4,840 SEK 46.9K
-77.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.2
253.13%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Marsta: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $797 in Marsta. 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 347% higher in Marsta, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $69.0 in Marsta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $363 – making Mexico City 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 Marsta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marsta cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $2,502 in Marsta. 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 Marsta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Marsta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $69.0 in Marsta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Marsta?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,677 in Mexico City and $1,668 in Marsta. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Marsta?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Marsta, where all-in costs run around $1,668, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Marsta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Marsta more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marsta – 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 Marsta?
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 Marsta. 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.

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