😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,131 in Middelburg.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,762 in Middelburg.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,393 in Middelburg.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 47% more expensive than in Middelburg, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Middelburg is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$10.69R 174
11.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$38.13R 620
35.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$6.03R 98.1
89.22%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$1.40R 22.81
185.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$0.86R 13.91
93.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.68R 11.12
95.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.27R 20.64
173.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$1.54R 24.97
283.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.20R 19.56
56.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$1.13R 18.44
187.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.53R 24.90
41.18%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.74R 28.21
66.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$6.04R 98.3
112.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.09R 82.8
97.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$6.97R 113
127.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$1.65R 26.82
99.39%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.17R 19.06
71.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.18R 19.15
86.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.33R 21.65
77.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$1.72R 27.90
19.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.23R 20.06
54.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$1.30R 21.07
23.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$1.01R 16.44
38.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.52R 40.94
116.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$4.95R 80.5
256.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.86R 30.17
10.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$2.17R 35.29
115.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$1.44R 23.48
-76.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$44.19R 719
-52.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.61R 9.98
244.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.95R 15.46
-41.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$9.26R 151
-37.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.39R 22.57
15.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$37.0KR 600.9K
-38.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$32.4KR 527.1K
-17.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$143R 2,326
-54.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$35.27R 574
-14.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$38.76R 630
-4.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$33.77R 549
76.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.68R 125
-8.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$249R 4,049
86.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$5,803R 94.4K
128.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$54.4R 885
39.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$33.51R 545
66.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$108R 1,760
3.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$92.0R 1,496
30.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$426R 6,925
158.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$383R 6,223
88.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$806R 13.1K
213.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$788R 12.8K
64.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$904R 14.7K
341.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$688R 11.2K
203.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Middelburg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$1,214R 19.7K
-14.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11
2.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Middelburg: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $426 in Middelburg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Middelburg pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $38.00 in Middelburg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $176 per month, with Middelburg 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 Middelburg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Middelburg?
Mexico City and Middelburg differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,131 including rent). Middelburg 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 17% lower in Middelburg. 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 Middelburg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $426 in Middelburg. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Middelburg?
A monthly transit pass in Middelburg runs roughly 112% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Middelburg?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $249 in Middelburg. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,131 in Middelburg versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Middelburg but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Middelburg the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Middelburg?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Middelburg?
Expats usually find Middelburg gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Mexico City. 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