😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $745 in Prilep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,134 in Prilep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,523 in Prilep.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 98% more expensive than in Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Prilep is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$4.03MKD 217
226.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
$27.76MKD 1,493
92.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
$5.74MKD 308
62.54%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$1.46MKD 78.6
153.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$1.68MKD 90.2
-4.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$1.29MKD 69.1
-13.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.56MKD 84.1
101.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$2.06MKD 111
135.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$1.23MKD 65.9
34.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$0.74MKD 39.93
266.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$1.59MKD 85.7
20.13%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$2.11MKD 114
22.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
$7.18MKD 386
36.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$5.78MKD 311
45.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
$9.90MKD 532
20.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$0.86MKD 46.17
243.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$1.36MKD 72.9
27.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$0.97MKD 52.3
110.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$1.46MKD 78.8
41.10%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$0.89MKD 47.76
141.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$0.96MKD 51.8
135.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
$0.61MKD 32.54
127.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.44MKD 23.66
154.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
$3.07MKD 165
37.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$4.75MKD 256
268.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$0.91MKD 48.89
87.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$1.22MKD 65.9
197.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
$0.37MKD 19.78
-5.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
$18.81MKD 1,012
2.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
$0.96MKD 51.5
43.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
$0.49MKD 26.61
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$6.43MKD 346
-17.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$1.44MKD 77.7
-5.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-44.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
-20.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$128MKD 6,888
-68.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$17.38MKD 934
57.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$14.24MKD 766
113.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
$17.21MKD 925
203.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
$5.53MKD 297
378.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
$5.28MKD 284
17.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
$281MKD 15.1K
51.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
$1,212MKD 65.2K
785.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$42.44MKD 2,282
37.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$37.97MKD 2,042
17.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$74.7MKD 4,018
38.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$95.1MKD 5,112
14.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
$237MKD 12.8K
327.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$173MKD 9,301
260.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
$512MKD 27.5K
314.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
$281MKD 15.1K
335.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$1,044MKD 56.1K
263.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
$827MKD 44.5K
155.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
$609MKD 32.7K
72.79%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.54
149.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Prilep: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $237 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 73% 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 $28.00 in Prilep for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $167 per month, with Prilep 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 Prilep: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Prilep?
Mexico City and Prilep differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $745 including rent). Prilep is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Prilep?
Average pay runs 73% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Prilep?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $237 in Prilep. 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 Prilep?
A monthly transit pass in Prilep runs roughly 3% 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 Prilep?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $281 in Prilep. 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 $745 in Prilep versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Prilep but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Prilep the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Prilep?
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 Prilep safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Prilep 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 Prilep?
Expats usually find Prilep gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% 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