😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $800 in Obninsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,228 in Obninsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,655 in Obninsk.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 107% more expensive than in Obninsk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Obninsk is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$10.79₽908
10.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$31.94₽2,687
61.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$7.24₽609
57.60%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$2.90₽244
37.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$1.20₽101
38.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.45₽38.14
195.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$3.65₽307
-4.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.38₽201
147.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.09₽91.5
72.48%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.59₽49.52
450.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.67₽141
29.34%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.26₽106
130.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$7.31₽615
75.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$4.60₽387
118.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$8.41₽707
88.59%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$1.52₽128
116.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.64₽138
22.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.75₽147
25.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$2.37₽200
-0.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$0.55₽46.37
272.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$0.54₽45.47
251.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.94₽79.0
71.28%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.58₽49.07
141.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$3.21₽270
70.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$8.41₽707
109.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.20₽101
71.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.78₽150
162.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.43₽36.05
-20.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$3.59₽302
-41.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.69₽58.3
-18.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$10.80₽909
-46.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.80₽67.2
101.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$37.7K₽3.2M
-39.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$38.3K₽3.2M
-30.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$183₽15.4K
-64.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$8.49₽714
254.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$9.68₽814
284.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$8.31₽699
-15.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$790₽66.5K
-41.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$25.5K₽2.1M
-47.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$105₽8,820
-27.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$60.5₽5,086
-7.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$146₽12.3K
-23.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$176₽14.8K
-31.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$3,153₽265.3K
26.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$2,461₽207.1K
-15.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Obninsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
19.52
-42.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Obninsk: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $32.00 in Obninsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $175 per month, with Obninsk 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 Obninsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Obninsk?
Mexico City and Obninsk differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $800 including rent). Obninsk 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 Obninsk?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,201 in Obninsk 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Obninsk?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $790 in Obninsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Obninsk – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $800 in Obninsk versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Obninsk but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Obninsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Obninsk?
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 Obninsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Obninsk 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 Obninsk?
Expats usually find Obninsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 107% 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