😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $988 in Resen.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,492 in Resen.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,997 in Resen.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 68% more expensive than in Resen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Resen is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$9.48MKD 507
25.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$35.55MKD 1,903
45.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$6.80MKD 364
67.79%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$2.18MKD 117
83.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$1.89MKD 101
-12.17%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$1.31MKD 70.2
1.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$2.63MKD 141
31.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.65MKD 142
122.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.33MKD 71.4
41.35%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.76MKD 40.91
327.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.83MKD 98.0
18.03%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$2.45MKD 131
18.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$8.27MKD 443
55.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$7.34MKD 393
36.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$14.84MKD 794
6.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$1.47MKD 78.6
123.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.47MKD 78.8
36.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.37MKD 73.2
60.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$2.09MKD 112
12.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$0.91MKD 48.77
125.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$0.86MKD 46.23
120.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.60MKD 32.12
168.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.63MKD 33.68
122.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$3.65MKD 195
49.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$7.48MKD 400
135.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.08MKD 57.9
90.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.54MKD 82.3
203.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.77MKD 41.23
-55.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$24.07MKD 1,288
-13.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$1.12MKD 59.9
87.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.63MKD 33.81
-11.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$7.99MKD 427
-27.28%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.61MKD 86.0
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$36.4KMKD 1.9M
-37.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$27.9KMKD 1.5M
-4.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$165MKD 8,816
-60.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$18.71MKD 1,002
60.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$19.33MKD 1,034
92.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$25.43MKD 1,361
135.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
$18.76MKD 1,004
41.52%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.67MKD 411
-8.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$369MKD 19.7K
25.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$5,800MKD 310.4K
128.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$85.8MKD 4,592
-11.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$38.45MKD 2,058
45.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$106MKD 5,652
5.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$117MKD 6,250
3.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$265MKD 14.2K
316.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$170MKD 9,086
324.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$480MKD 25.7K
426.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$307MKD 16.4K
321.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,590MKD 85.1K
151.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,202MKD 64.3K
73.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Resen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.23
167.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Resen: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $265 in Resen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $36.00 in Resen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $214 per month, with Resen 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 Resen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Resen?
Mexico City and Resen differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $988 including rent). Resen is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Resen?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,482 in Resen 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 in Resen?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $265 in Resen. 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 Resen?
A monthly transit pass in Resen runs roughly 16% 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 Resen?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $369 in Resen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $988 in Resen versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Resen but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Resen the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Resen?
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 Resen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Resen 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 Resen?
Expats usually find Resen gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% 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