🙂A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,493 in Matera, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,276 in Matera, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $3,060 in Matera, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 2% cheaper than Matera, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Mexico City and Matera sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Matera by 11%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$13.69€11.79
-3.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$69.2€59.6
-22.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$11.42€9.84
-17.51%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$2.10€1.81
69.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$2.08€1.79
-22.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$1.07€0.92
3.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$4.61€3.97
-32.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$4.54€3.91
1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.28€1.11
32.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.73€1.49
57.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$2.92€2.52
-34.59%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$3.76€3.24
-32.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$14.64€12.61
-31.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$10.15€8.74
-20.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$16.51€14.21
-29.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$2.92€2.51
1.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$2.30€1.98
-21.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.13€0.97
77.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$3.69€3.18
-44.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$1.93€1.66
9.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.77€1.53
28.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.49€1.29
-6.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.50€0.43
126.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$6.63€5.71
-35.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$8.35€7.19
86.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$2.67€2.30
-34.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$3.44€2.96
4.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$1.76€1.52
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$44.12€37.99
-56.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$5.64€4.86
-75.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$2.16€1.86
-87.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$35.20€30.31
-84.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$2.07€1.79
-37.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$36.4K€31.4K
-48.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$34.9K€30.0K
-33.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$171€148
-76.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$13.03€11.22
105.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$33.23€28.61
-9.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$54.2€46.69
-4.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$23.44€20.19
14.51%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$11.45€9.86
-44.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$386€332
13.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$6,172€5,315
68.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$94.3€81.2
-39.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$43.38€37.35
2.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$101€87.3
1.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$145€125
-27.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$628€541
62.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$436€376
44.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$926€797
130.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$662€570
87.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$2,898€2,496
34.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$3,382€2,912
-38.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Matera
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,768€1,522
-36.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.04
180.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Matera: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $628 in Matera. 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 59% higher in Matera, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $69.0 in Matera. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $311 – 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 Matera: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Matera?
Matera costs about 2% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 vs Matera?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $2,239 in Matera. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Matera?
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 expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Matera?
Public transport costs about 130% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Matera?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $386 in Matera. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Matera?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,467, than in Matera at $1,493. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Matera it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Matera?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,467 versus $1,493 in Matera. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Matera?
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 Matera?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Matera makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared