🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,038 in Mdina.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,063 in Mdina.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,088 in Mdina.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 19% less than in Mdina, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Mdina49% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$20.35€17.73
-41.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$91.0€79.3
-43.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$13.77€12.00
-17.14%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$2.86€2.49
39.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$3.27€2.85
-49.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$2.26€1.97
-41.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$4.60€4.01
-24.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$5.21€4.54
13.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$1.38€1.20
36.23%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$1.34€1.17
142.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$4.61€4.02
-53.15%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$4.49€3.91
-35.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$8.30€7.23
54.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$10.95€9.54
-8.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$18.72€16.31
-15.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$4.42€3.85
-25.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$2.83€2.47
-28.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$3.68€3.20
-40.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$3.37€2.94
-29.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$2.59€2.26
-20.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$2.03€1.77
-6.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.43€2.12
-33.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$1.38€1.20
1.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$7.16€6.24
-23.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$8.64€7.53
104.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$1.83€1.59
12.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$2.43€2.12
92.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$2.33€2.03
-85.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$5.88€5.13
-64.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$2.34€2.04
-76.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
$27.24€23.73
-78.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$1.58€1.38
1.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$39.7K€34.6K
-42.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
$40.4K€35.2K
-33.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$104€90.9
-37.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$25.97€22.63
15.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$45.18€39.36
-17.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$60.3€52.5
-0.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$10.39€9.05
-32.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$386€336
20.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$11.3K€9,850
17.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$91.2€79.5
-16.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$41.15€35.85
35.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$103€90.0
8.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$81.2€70.7
48.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$1,263€1,101
-12.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$1,095€954
-34.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$1,930€1,681
31.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$1,348€1,174
-4.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
$3,781€3,294
5.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
$3,014€2,625
-30.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mdina
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$1,564€1,362
-33.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
2.9
289.66%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mdina: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,263 in Mdina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mdina pays 51% 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 $91.0 in Mdina. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $339, with Mdina cheaper for home cooking.
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 Mdina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Mdina?
Mexico City and Mdina differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,038 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Mdina. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Mdina?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,263 in Mdina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Mdina pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Mdina?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $2,038 in Mdina – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,038 in Mdina, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Mdina. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Mdina?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Mdina safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Mdina are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Mdina?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Mdina. 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