Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Mostar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Mostar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,001 in Mostar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,475 in Mostar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,949 in Mostar.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 47% more expensive than Mostar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Mostar is 25% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$7.07 BAM 11.91
86.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$934
$35.96 BAM 60.6
49.89%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$5.45 BAM 9.19
72.84%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.5
$1.59 BAM 2.68
123.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.03
$1.87 BAM 3.15
-13.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.31
$1.16 BAM 1.95
-4.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.1
$2.10 BAM 3.54
48.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.2
$2.12 BAM 3.57
118.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.48
$1.36 BAM 2.28
25.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.10
$1.28 BAM 2.16
112.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.13
$1.63 BAM 2.74
17.18%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.94
$2.79 BAM 4.70
-8.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$9.26 BAM 15.61
8.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$7.52 BAM 12.67
7.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$11.93 BAM 20.10
-2.60%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.4
$1.28 BAM 2.16
132.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.30
$1.66 BAM 2.79
9.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.88
$1.86 BAM 3.13
8.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.26
$1.73 BAM 2.91
17.34%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.82
$0.78 BAM 1.32
171.79%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.32
$0.74 BAM 1.26
206.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.26
$0.98 BAM 1.66
42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.59
$0.73 BAM 1.23
54.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.0
$3.61 BAM 6.08
18.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$270
$4.12 BAM 6.95
277.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.44
$0.70 BAM 1.19
151.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.3
$1.13 BAM 1.91
218.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.64
$1.15 BAM 1.93
-66.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$34.06 BAM 57.4
-43.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.84
$1.45 BAM 2.44
-4.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.79
$0.90 BAM 1.52
-68.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.4
$9.07 BAM 15.27
-39.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.60
$1.43 BAM 2.41
-9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.8K
$23.4K BAM 39.4K
-20.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.8K
$26.1K BAM 44.0K
-11.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$708
$125 BAM 211
-67.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$465
$18.89 BAM 31.82
41.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$519
$23.79 BAM 40.08
25.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$901
$34.88 BAM 58.8
49.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$465
$11.97 BAM 20.16
124.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$4.82 BAM 8.13
30.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,558
$152 BAM 257
186.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.5K
$3,216 BAM 5,418
223.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$982
$74.8 BAM 126
-24.27%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$769
$34.58 BAM 58.3
28.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,784
$90.9 BAM 153
13.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,829
$117 BAM 197
-9.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$263 BAM 444
287.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$270 BAM 455
133.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$37.0K
$443 BAM 746
382.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$311 BAM 524
299.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.6K
$2,392 BAM 4,030
63.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.8K
$1,624 BAM 2,736
27.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mostar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$890 BAM 1,500
25.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.14
173.91%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mostar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $263 in Mostar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 25% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $36.00 in Mostar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $208 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 Mostar?
Mexico City and Mostar differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,001 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?
Mexico City pays 25% more on average, 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 Mostar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $263 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 Mostar?
A monthly transit pass in Mostar runs roughly 78% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $152 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 $1,001 in Mostar versus $1,467 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 47% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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