🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,989 in Matosinhos.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,876 in Matosinhos.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $3,762 in Matosinhos.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 17% less than in Matosinhos, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Matosinhos45% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$14.11€12.30
-15.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$49.30€42.98
4.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$9.70€8.45
17.63%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$2.71€2.36
47.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$2.14€1.86
-22.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$1.41€1.23
-5.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$2.87€2.50
20.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$3.38€2.94
74.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.15€1.00
63.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.76€1.54
84.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$1.78€1.55
21.35%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$3.65€3.18
-20.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$12.13€10.58
6.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$7.29€6.35
37.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$15.06€13.13
5.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.26€1.97
45.58%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.63€1.42
23.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.91€1.66
15.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$2.57€2.24
-8.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$1.70€1.48
20.59%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.89€1.65
0.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.58€1.37
1.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.70€0.61
100.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$6.60€5.75
-17.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$5.72€4.99
208.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.45€1.26
42.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$2.21€1.93
111.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$2.39€2.08
-85.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$47.05€41.01
-55.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$4.12€3.59
-49.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.91€0.79
-38.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$14.33€12.49
-59.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$2.21€1.93
-27.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$35.0K€30.5K
-34.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$39.2K€34.2K
-31.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$165€144
-60.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$23.01€20.05
30.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$34.04€29.67
9.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$54.5€47.54
9.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$17.46€15.22
52.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$9.26€8.08
-23.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$586€511
-20.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$10.9K€9,542
21.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$100€87.3
-24.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$39.03€34.02
43.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$98.1€85.5
14.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$107€93.1
12.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$1,309€1,141
-15.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$1,007€878
-28.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$2,339€2,039
8.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,645€1,434
-21.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$4,402€3,837
-9.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$3,890€3,391
-46.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Matosinhos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$1,234€1,076
-15.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.83
195.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Matosinhos: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,309 in Matosinhos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Matosinhos pays 19% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $49.00 in Matosinhos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $257 per month, with Matosinhos cheaper across the board.
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 Matosinhos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matosinhos cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Matosinhos?
On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Matosinhos. 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 Matosinhos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,309 in Matosinhos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Matosinhos?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,989 in Matosinhos – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 126% less than in Matosinhos. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Matosinhos?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,989 in Matosinhos, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Matosinhos. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Matosinhos more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Matosinhos, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Matosinhos?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Matosinhos 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Matosinhos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared