😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $718 in Ninh Binh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,161 in Ninh Binh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,604 in Ninh Binh.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 104% more expensive than Ninh Binh, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Ninh Binh is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.96₫51.6K
572.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$20.88₫549.1K
158.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.50₫118.2K
109.33%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.77₫46.6K
100.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.51₫13.5K
217.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.30₫7,916
270.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$1.00₫26.3K
212.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$1.59₫41.7K
191.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.38₫36.3K
23.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.02₫26.7K
166.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.99₫26.1K
92.93%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.43₫37.5K
77.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$11.73₫308.4K
-14.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.77₫99.0K
114.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$9.66₫253.9K
20.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$2.75₫72.4K
8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.02₫26.7K
77.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.29₫33.9K
55.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$1.12₫29.5K
81.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$1.02₫26.9K
107.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.05₫27.6K
116.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.64₫16.9K
118.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.48₫12.5K
135.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$1.33₫34.9K
221.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$11.19₫294.2K
39.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$0.74₫19.5K
137.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.66₫43.7K
116.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.32₫8,302
18.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$6.48₫170.4K
195.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.67₫17.6K
105.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.62₫16.4K
-54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$2.84₫74.8K
91.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$0.91₫23.9K
42.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$34.5K₫907.6M
-45.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$31.9K₫839.7M
-27.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$74.6₫2.0M
-45.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$5.98₫157.3K
348.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$8.47₫222.7K
253.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$21.92₫576.3K
137.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$7.60₫199.7K
253.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$3.11₫81.8K
102.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$264₫6.9M
65.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$11.4K₫300.5M
-8.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$40.38₫1.1M
40.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$22.89₫601.9K
93.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$85.3₫2.2M
20.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$73.5₫1.9M
43.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$364₫9.6M
180.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$252₫6.6M
150.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$737₫19.4M
189.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$544₫14.3M
128.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$2,075₫54.5M
88.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$1,229₫32.3M
67.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ninh Binh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.1
24.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ninh Binh: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $364 in Ninh Binh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Ninh Binh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $190 per month, with Ninh Binh 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 Ninh Binh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Ninh Binh?
Mexico City and Ninh Binh differ by about 104% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $718 including rent). Ninh Binh 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 Ninh Binh?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,078 in Ninh Binh 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 Ninh Binh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $364 in Ninh Binh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Ninh Binh?
A monthly transit pass in Ninh Binh runs roughly 196% 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 Ninh Binh?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $264 in Ninh Binh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $718 in Ninh Binh versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ninh Binh but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ninh Binh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ninh Binh?
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 Ninh Binh safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ninh Binh 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 Ninh Binh?
Expats usually find Ninh Binh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 104% 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