🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,767 in Montegalda.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $2,678 in Montegalda.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $3,589 in Montegalda.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 18% less than in Montegalda, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Montegalda32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$18.53€16.23
-29.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$80.7€70.6
-33.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$11.48€10.06
-15.68%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$2.02€1.76
85.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$3.52€3.08
-53.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$1.68€1.47
-30.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$6.95€6.09
-53.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$4.76€4.17
-0.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.59€1.39
3.77%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$2.66€2.33
3.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$2.85€2.50
-34.39%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$4.07€3.57
-38.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$16.12€14.11
-36.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$12.47€10.92
-33.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$18.67€16.35
-36.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.74€2.40
9.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.36€2.07
-23.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$2.71€2.37
-26.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$2.59€2.27
-22.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.96€1.72
6.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.70€1.49
33.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.23€1.08
18.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.43€0.38
151.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$6.74€5.90
-35.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.89€6.03
146.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.51€1.32
14.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.08€1.82
72.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.77€1.55
-77.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$42.95€37.62
-56.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$9.38€8.21
-85.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.05€0.92
-73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$40.26€35.26
-86.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$2.09€1.83
-35.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$32.7K€28.6K
-40.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$38.2K€33.4K
-37.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$230€202
-82.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$12.13€10.62
121.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$31.97€28.00
-4.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$54.6€47.79
-3.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$22.74€19.92
17.19%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$11.65€10.20
-44.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$569€498
-24.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$11.4K€9,962
-7.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$72.2€63.2
-20.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$37.99€33.28
19.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$90.5€79.3
14.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$130€114
-17.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$751€657
33.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$587€514
6.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$1,198€1,049
76.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$930€814
31.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$3,089€2,705
25.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$2,037€1,784
-0.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Montegalda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.47
153.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Montegalda: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $751 in Montegalda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $81.0 in Montegalda for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $333 per month, with Mexico City 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 Montegalda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Montegalda?
Mexico City and Montegalda differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,767 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Montegalda?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $2,650 in Montegalda to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Montegalda?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $751 in Montegalda. 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 Montegalda?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 130% less than in Montegalda. 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 Montegalda?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $569 in Montegalda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,767 in Montegalda, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Montegalda. 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 Montegalda?
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 Montegalda safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Montegalda 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 Montegalda?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Montegalda. 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