😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,358 in Roodepoort.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,905 in Roodepoort.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,451 in Roodepoort.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 8% more expensive than in Roodepoort, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Roodepoort2% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$11.22R 185
17.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$44.89R 739
19.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$4.89R 80.6
90.80%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$2.08R 34.25
77.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$1.04R 17.05
53.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.80R 13.20
40.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$2.31R 37.96
35.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$2.56R 42.17
89.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.19R 19.65
38.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.02R 16.87
165.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.65R 27.16
15.76%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$2.52R 41.48
2.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$8.24R 136
19.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$4.86R 80.1
73.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$6.66R 110
79.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$1.71R 28.07
72.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.61R 26.46
8.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.64R 27.05
24.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.63R 26.90
26.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.37R 22.53
56.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.37R 22.51
64.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$1.09R 17.86
27.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$1.15R 18.98
-2.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$2.72R 44.78
55.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$5.86R 96.5
198.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.36R 22.42
25.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$1.61R 26.45
125.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$1.61R 26.44
-78.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$1.14R 18.75
21.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.93R 15.36
-69.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$3.13R 51.5
68.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$1.30R 21.48
4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$19.0KR 312.6K
0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$24.3KR 400.2K
-2.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$124R 2,033
-67.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$37.49R 617
-26.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$43.13R 710
-29.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$38.65R 636
35.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$10.09R 166
162.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$7.47R 123
-17.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$208R 3,424
104.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$4,951R 81.5K
116.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$49.79R 820
17.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$31.98R 526
39.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$88.4R 1,454
17.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$78.2R 1,287
39.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$551R 9,077
83.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$618R 10.2K
0.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$1,412R 23.3K
50.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$854R 14.1K
43.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Roodepoort
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
$1,491R 24.5K
-29.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.51
-1.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Roodepoort: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $551 in Roodepoort. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Roodepoort pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $45.00 in Roodepoort for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $188 per month, with Roodepoort 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 Roodepoort: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Roodepoort?
Mexico City and Roodepoort differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,358 including rent). Roodepoort is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Roodepoort. 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 in Roodepoort?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $551 in Roodepoort. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Roodepoort?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $208 in Roodepoort. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Roodepoort – a meal for two runs $45.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,358 in Roodepoort versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Roodepoort but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Roodepoort the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Roodepoort?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Roodepoort?
Expats usually find Roodepoort gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% 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