🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,475 in Pula.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,382 in Pula.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $3,289 in Pula.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 1% less than in Pula, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Pula10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$13.86€11.92
-4.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$74.1€63.8
-27.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$9.16€7.88
2.84%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$2.53€2.18
40.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$3.25€2.79
-50.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$2.12€1.82
-47.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.40€2.93
-8.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$4.82€4.15
-3.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.48€1.28
14.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.68€1.44
61.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$3.75€3.23
-49.07%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$4.28€3.68
-40.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.34€8.89
-3.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$9.17€7.89
-11.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$11.18€9.62
3.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.09€1.79
42.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.57€1.35
15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$2.14€1.84
-6.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$3.58€3.08
-43.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.53€1.32
38.56%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.85€0.73
167.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.37€1.18
2.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.38€1.19
-18.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$5.33€4.59
-19.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$7.59€6.53
105.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.85€1.59
-4.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.67€2.29
34.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$2.32€2.00
-83.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$34.71€29.86
-44.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$3.02€2.60
-54.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.01€0.87
-72.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$8.73€7.51
-37.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.69€1.45
-23.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$37.4K€32.1K
-49.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$28.0K€24.1K
-17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$130€112
-68.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$23.32€20.06
14.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$32.98€28.37
-9.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$58.8€50.6
-11.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$40.58€34.91
-33.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$15.88€13.66
-60.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$247€213
76.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$2,278€1,959
357.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$91.6€78.8
-38.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$38.06€32.74
16.61%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$164€141
-37.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$117€100
-9.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$654€562
56.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$453€390
39.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$1,163€1,000
83.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$913€786
36.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$4,371€3,760
-10.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$3,477€2,991
-40.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,568€1,349
-28.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.22
168.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Pula: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $654 in Pula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pula pays 41% 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 $74.0 in Pula. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $279, with Pula 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 Pula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Pula?
Mexico City and Pula differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,475 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Pula earns 41% less. 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 Pula?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $654 in Pula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Pula?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 81% less than in Pula. 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 Pula?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $247 in Pula. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,475 in Pula, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Pula. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pula?
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 Pula safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Pula 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 Pula?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Pula. 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