😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,024 in Nis.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,524 in Nis.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,024 in Nis.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 41% more expensive than Nis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Nis is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$7.62RSD 771
70.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$29.33RSD 2,966
79.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$9.72RSD 983
-2.98%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$2.00RSD 202
78.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.89RSD 192
-14.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.27RSD 129
-9.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$2.50RSD 253
26.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.97RSD 300
63.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.34RSD 136
26.87%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.71RSD 71.5
271.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.85RSD 187
2.70%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.48RSD 251
2.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$7.82RSD 791
28.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.75RSD 682
22.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$11.83RSD 1,196
-2.20%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.15RSD 116
163.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.73RSD 175
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.50RSD 152
36.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.78RSD 180
15.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.08RSD 109
90.74%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.10RSD 111
97.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.55RSD 55.8
154.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.61RSD 61.8
83.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$4.19RSD 424
2.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$6.53RSD 660
135.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$0.71RSD 71.7
135.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.04RSD 206
80.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.75RSD 75.9
-49.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$26.24RSD 2,654
-27.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.46RSD 148
-5.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.42RSD 42.88
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$6.88RSD 696
-21.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.76RSD 178
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$31.0KRSD 3.1M
-38.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$27.4KRSD 2.8M
-14.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$142RSD 14.3K
-71.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$16.69RSD 1,688
61.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$22.77RSD 2,303
30.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$29.32RSD 2,966
78.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$19.33RSD 1,955
35.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$5.07RSD 513
21.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$234RSD 23.7K
82.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$5,145RSD 520.3K
107.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$88.8RSD 8,978
-36.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$47.06RSD 4,759
-4.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$93.2RSD 9,422
12.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$103RSD 10.4K
2.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$409RSD 41.4K
143.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$284RSD 28.7K
118.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$554RSD 56.0K
283.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$406RSD 41.1K
208.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$2,597RSD 262.7K
50.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,910RSD 193.2K
9.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Nis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$890RSD 90.0K
24.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.45
52.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Nis: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $409 in Nis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 24% 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 Nis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $197 per month, with Nis 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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Nis?
Mexico City and Nis differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $1,024 including rent). Nis is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Nis?
Mexico City pays 24% 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 Nis?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $409 in Nis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Nis?
A monthly transit pass in Nis runs roughly 38% 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 Nis?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $234 in Nis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,024 in Nis versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Nis but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Nis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Nis?
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 Nis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Nis 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 Nis?
Expats usually find Nis gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% 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