๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,037 in Rรขศnov.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,576 in Rรขศnov.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,114 in Rรขศnov.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 40% more expensive than Rรขศnov, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Rรขศnov is 23% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$8.57RONย 38.76
51.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$40.40RONย 183
30.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$8.05RONย 36.40
17.14%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$2.31RONย 10.46
54.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.33RONย 6.00
21.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.15RONย 5.22
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$2.16RONย 9.76
45.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.83RONย 12.80
71.73%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.52RONย 6.88
11.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.17RONย 5.31
125.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.57RONย 7.10
21.02%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$3.02RONย 13.65
-15.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$8.47RONย 38.33
19.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.98RONย 31.59
18.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$11.85RONย 53.6
-2.36%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.01RONย 4.57
200.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.36RONย 6.16
25.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.52RONย 6.89
34.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.95RONย 8.80
5.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.90RONย 4.07
128.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.92RONย 4.15
135.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.76RONย 3.42
84.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.80RONย 3.63
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$6.04RONย 27.31
-28.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$7.50RONย 33.93
105.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.07RONย 4.85
56.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.69RONย 7.63
118.34%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.67RONย 3.05
-43.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$19.81RONย 89.6
-3.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.71RONย 3.20
94.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.61RONย 2.75
-54.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$6.80RONย 30.75
-20.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.63RONย 7.36
-21.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$27.7KRONย 125.2K
-31.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$27.6KRONย 124.7K
-14.90%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$168RONย 758
-75.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$8.27RONย 37.39
225.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$9.12RONย 41.24
225.55%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$41.59RONย 188
25.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$19.03RONย 86.1
37.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$5.90RONย 26.68
4.75%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$445RONย 2,013
-4.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$6,566RONย 29.7K
62.92%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$72.5RONย 328
-21.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$42.20RONย 191
6.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$97.0RONย 439
7.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$79.1RONย 358
34.03%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$392RONย 1,773
153.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$286RONย 1,294
117.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$595RONย 2,693
257.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$441RONย 1,994
184.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,938RONย 8,766
101.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,395RONย 6,309
50.26%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Rรขศnov
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.7
47.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Rรขศnov: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $392 in Rรขศnov. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $40.00 in Rรขศnov for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $211 per month, with Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Rรขศnov?
Mexico City and Rรขศnov differ by about 40% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $1,037 including rent). Rรขศnov is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Rรขศnov?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $1,555 in Rรขศnov to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Rรขศnov?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $392 in Rรขศnov. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Rรขศnov?
A monthly transit pass in Rรขศnov runs roughly 4% 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 Rรขศnov?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $445 in Rรขศnov. 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 $1,037 in Rรขศnov versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rรขศnov but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Rรขศnov the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Rรขศnov?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Rรขศnov safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Rรขศnov 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 Rรขศnov?
Expats usually find Rรขศnov gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 40% 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