😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,301 in Ourense.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,916 in Ourense.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,531 in Ourense.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 11% more expensive than in Ourense, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Ourense is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$225
$17.20€15.00
-24.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$908
$57.4€50.1
-8.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$168
$6.32€5.52
53.32%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.1
$1.94€1.69
93.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.14
$2.56€2.23
-39.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.10
$1.69€1.47
-31.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$56.3
$2.80€2.45
15.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$85.0
$3.55€3.10
38.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.12€0.98
51.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$46.30
$1.01€0.88
164.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.77
$1.28€1.12
47.66%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.74
$2.92€2.55
-13.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$174
$10.24€8.94
-2.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$148
$7.45€6.50
14.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$207
$12.56€10.96
-4.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.6
$1.89€1.65
57.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.14
$2.12€1.85
-15.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.69
$1.88€1.64
6.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$2.26€1.97
-13.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.53
$1.73€1.51
24.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.38
$2.34€2.05
-2.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.34
$1.13€0.98
23.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.34
$0.75€0.66
48.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.9
$6.07€5.30
-30.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$287
$8.26€7.21
100.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.19
$1.22€1.07
37.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$62.3
$2.58€2.25
39.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$1.02€0.89
-61.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$28.67€25.01
-33.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.98
$4.59€4.01
-69.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.24
$0.54€0.47
-44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$93.5
$58.7€51.2
-90.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.32
$1.81€1.58
-28.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$327.9K
$39.3K€34.3K
-51.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.0K
$32.0K€27.9K
-25.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$112€97.7
-64.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$483
$21.28€18.57
30.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$517
$33.14€28.92
-10.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$902
$45.72€39.89
13.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$455
$5.86€5.12
347.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$8.85€7.72
-29.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,508
$357€311
21.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.9K
$8,086€7,055
30.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$989
$75.6€66.0
-24.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$787
$26.14€22.81
73.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,768
$88.4€77.1
15.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,883
$75.5€65.9
43.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.2K
$642€560
54.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$468€409
31.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$36.2K
$793€692
163.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.8K
$567€495
121.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$68.3K
$2,735€2,386
43.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$36.2K
$1,905€1,662
9.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ourense
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.6K
$1,524€1,329
-25.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
3.22
252.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Ourense: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $642 in Ourense. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ourense pays 35% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $57.0 in Ourense. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $236, with Ourense cheaper for home cooking.
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 Ourense: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Ourense?
Mexico City and Ourense differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $1,301 including rent). Ourense is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 35% lower in Ourense. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Ourense?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $642 in Ourense. 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 Ourense?
A monthly transit pass in Ourense runs roughly 49% 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 Ourense?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $357 in Ourense. 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 $1,301 in Ourense versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ourense but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ourense the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ourense?
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 Ourense safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ourense 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 Ourense?
Expats usually find Ourense gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% 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