😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $931 in Mostar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,428 in Mostar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $1,925 in Mostar.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 79% more expensive than in Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 24% above, Mostar is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$7.00BAM 12.00
71.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$934
$29.12BAM 49.96
81.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$5.78BAM 9.91
102.25%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.4
$1.71BAM 2.93
126.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$30.94
$1.97BAM 3.37
-11.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.65
$1.28BAM 2.19
8.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.4
$2.38BAM 4.09
41.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$2.23BAM 3.83
158.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$31.92
$1.20BAM 2.06
50.83%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.5
$0.99BAM 1.71
211.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.65
$2.05BAM 3.51
3.90%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.6
$2.69BAM 4.62
10.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$221
$7.74BAM 13.29
61.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$181
$7.38BAM 12.67
38.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$281
$10.77BAM 18.48
47.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$59.8
$1.15BAM 1.98
194.78%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.24
$1.71BAM 2.93
23.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.59
$1.40BAM 2.40
52.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.61
$1.23BAM 2.10
100.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.03
$0.86BAM 1.48
137.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.59
$0.69BAM 1.18
191.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.15
$0.78BAM 1.33
103.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.50
$0.69BAM 1.18
92.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.0
$4.09BAM 7.01
34.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$310
$4.22BAM 7.23
315.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.61
$0.77BAM 1.32
161.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.8
$0.90BAM 1.54
426.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.94
$1.20BAM 2.06
-71.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$373
$33.66BAM 57.8
-37.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.28
$1.80BAM 3.09
13.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.75
$0.62BAM 1.06
-1.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$10.62BAM 18.22
-46.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.09
$1.51BAM 2.59
5.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$404.6K
$31.1KBAM 53.3K
-26.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$466.2K
$21.9KBAM 37.5K
20.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,135
$121BAM 208
-47.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$520
$17.92BAM 30.75
64.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$651
$26.90BAM 46.15
36.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,038
$36.28BAM 62.3
61.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$469
$11.76BAM 20.18
125.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$5.67BAM 9.72
22.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,180
$153BAM 262
203.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$236.2K
$13.5KBAM 23.1K
-0.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,333
$59.6BAM 102
26.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$958
$34.19BAM 58.7
58.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,965
$89.1BAM 153
24.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,160
$84.1BAM 144
45.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.0K
$435BAM 747
160.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.3K
$262BAM 450
166.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.2K
$668BAM 1,146
265.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.0K
$465BAM 798
180.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.1K
$2,313BAM 3,969
69.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.6K
$1,600BAM 2,745
29.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.6K
$871BAM 1,494
20.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.3
162.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Mostar: September 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $435 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 21% 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 $29.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $190 per month, with Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Mostar?
Mexico City and Mostar differ by about 79% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $931 including rent). Mostar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Mostar?
Average pay runs 21% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Mostar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $435 in Mostar. 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 Mostar?
A monthly transit pass in Mostar runs roughly 60% 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 Mostar?
Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $153 in Mostar. 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 $931 in Mostar versus $1,668 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mostar but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mostar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Mostar?
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 Mostar safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Mostar 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 Mostar?
Expats usually find Mostar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 79% 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