😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $506 in Molo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $861 in Molo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,216 in Molo.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 193% more expensive than Molo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Molo is 62% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.34KES 690
143.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$38.63KES 4,987
37.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.88KES 888
41.28%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.37KES 305
58.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.72KES 92.8
118.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.50KES 64.8
126.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.38KES 307
33.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.84KES 367
64.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.86KES 111
88.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.57KES 73.4
375.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.57KES 203
19.75%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.65KES 212
52.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$11.41KES 1,473
-11.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$6.82KES 880
21.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$5.53KES 714
115.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.04KES 393
-5.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.04KES 134
68.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.18KES 281
-4.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.05KES 136
87.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.02KES 132
111.76%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.17KES 152
86.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.68KES 88.2
104.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.82KES 106
36.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.16KES 408
32.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$11.54KES 1,489
23.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.27KES 293
-22.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.78KES 359
32.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.53KES 198
-9.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.57KES 203
-80.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$2.95KES 381
83.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.53KES 198
-11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$21.6KKES 2.8M
-12.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$19.7KKES 2.5M
17.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$33.79KES 4,361
20.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$17.03KES 2,198
61.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$38.64KES 4,987
-21.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.21KES 801
0.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$202KES 26.1K
115.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$7,979KES 1.0M
31.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$18.34KES 2,368
209.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$23.57KES 3,042
90.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$66.1KES 8,529
55.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$56.5KES 7,288
91.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Molo
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$388KES 50.1K
175.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
14.84
-23.58%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Molo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Mexico City pays 175% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $39.00 in Molo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $205 per month, with Molo cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Mexico City vs Molo: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Molo?
Mexico City and Molo differ by about 193% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $506 including rent). Molo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Molo?
Mexico City pays 175% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Molo?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $202 in Molo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Molo – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $506 in Molo versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Molo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Molo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Molo?
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 Molo?
Expats usually find Molo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado