😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $759 in Prilep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,145 in Prilep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,531 in Prilep.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 91% more expensive than Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Prilep is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$4.15MKD 220
212.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$27.80MKD 1,475
89.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$5.79MKD 307
62.87%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.53MKD 81.4
133.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.66MKD 88.1
-3.01%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.23MKD 65.1
-6.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.57MKD 83.2
100.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.04MKD 108
138.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.23MKD 65.3
38.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.71MKD 37.88
271.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.60MKD 84.7
18.75%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.13MKD 113
19.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$6.96MKD 369
44.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$5.80MKD 308
42.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$9.91MKD 526
16.75%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.93MKD 49.26
225.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.43MKD 75.8
19.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.01MKD 53.4
102.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.54MKD 81.6
33.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.81MKD 42.90
154.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.94MKD 49.68
130.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.62MKD 32.66
125.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.44MKD 23.44
154.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.03MKD 161
41.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$4.71MKD 250
227.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$0.96MKD 51.0
73.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.18MKD 62.8
212.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.40MKD 21.15
-5.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$18.45MKD 979
3.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.96MKD 50.8
43.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.50MKD 26.44
-44.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$6.50MKD 345
-16.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.51MKD 80.2
-15.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$33.2KMKD 1.8M
-42.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$30.1KMKD 1.6M
-22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$129MKD 6,823
-68.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$17.62MKD 935
52.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$14.31MKD 760
107.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$16.83MKD 893
210.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$5.79MKD 307
353.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$5.30MKD 281
16.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$284MKD 15.1K
50.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$1,179MKD 62.6K
807.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$41.69MKD 2,212
36.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$37.38MKD 1,983
19.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$74.4MKD 3,946
40.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$93.8MKD 4,979
12.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$237MKD 12.6K
319.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$174MKD 9,229
257.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$511MKD 27.1K
315.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$285MKD 15.1K
339.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,059MKD 56.2K
268.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$833MKD 44.2K
151.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$607MKD 32.2K
82.27%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Prilep: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $237 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 82% 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 $28.00 in Prilep for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $168 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 Prilep?
Mexico City and Prilep differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $759 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?
Mexico City pays 82% 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 Prilep?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 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 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $284 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 $759 in Prilep versus $1,447 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 91% 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