😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $811 in Prilep.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,200 in Prilep.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,589 in Prilep.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 107% more expensive than in Prilep, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Prilep is 41% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$4.12MKD 218
194.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$916
$28.42MKD 1,501
89.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$5.83MKD 308
90.22%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.6
$1.50MKD 79.1
173.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.57
$1.67MKD 88.3
0.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.58
$1.29MKD 68.1
7.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.6
$1.63MKD 85.9
104.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.9
$2.05MKD 108
186.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.45
$1.18MKD 62.5
56.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.9
$0.74MKD 39.30
328.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.18
$1.65MKD 87.0
25.45%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.74
$2.11MKD 111
38.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$7.25MKD 383
73.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$5.89MKD 311
71.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$10.23MKD 540
57.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.6
$0.92MKD 48.37
268.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.31
$1.38MKD 73.0
50.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.02
$0.97MKD 51.1
118.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$41.01
$1.47MKD 77.9
63.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.17
$0.81MKD 42.92
162.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.07
$0.84MKD 44.29
139.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.25
$0.62MKD 32.70
150.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.19
$0.42MKD 22.13
223.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$98.0
$3.06MKD 161
88.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$4.68MKD 247
279.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.16
$0.93MKD 48.91
122.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.4
$1.18MKD 62.3
290.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.37MKD 19.49
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$360
$19.14MKD 1,011
10.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.89
$1.15MKD 60.9
78.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.80
$0.69MKD 36.56
-15.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$6.47MKD 342
-6.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.52MKD 80.2
1.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.6K
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-31.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.7K
$28.5KMKD 1.5M
-4.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,145
$127MKD 6,725
-47.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$17.81MKD 941
71.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$633
$14.41MKD 761
158.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,044
$21.17MKD 1,118
190.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$461
$18.75MKD 991
44.64%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$5.40MKD 285
31.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,750
$288MKD 15.2K
58.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.6K
$1,186MKD 62.6K
1054.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,260
$42.38MKD 2,239
75.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$969
$37.13MKD 1,961
53.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,961
$74.9MKD 3,958
54.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,064
$94.7MKD 5,005
28.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$235MKD 12.4K
387.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.1K
$206MKD 10.9K
243.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.8K
$517MKD 27.3K
398.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$284MKD 15.0K
355.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$68.0K
$1,034MKD 54.6K
287.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.2K
$843MKD 44.6K
152.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Prilep
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$618MKD 32.6K
75.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.25
165.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Prilep: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $235 in Prilep. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 75% 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 $345 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 in Prilep?
Mexico City and Prilep differ by about 107% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $811 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 75% 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $235 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 11% 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 $456 in Mexico City versus $288 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 $811 in Prilep versus $1,677 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 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