😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $872 in Rustavi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,287 in Rustavi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,703 in Rustavi.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 66% more expensive than Rustavi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Rustavi is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$11.00₾29.12
18.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$28.81₾76.3
82.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$8.47₾22.43
11.33%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.90₾5.04
87.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.76₾2.01
111.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.46₾1.22
150.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$2.16₾5.73
45.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.84₾7.53
71.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.85₾4.91
-8.11%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.69₾1.82
282.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.56₾4.12
21.79%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.22₾5.88
14.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$7.58₾20.07
32.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$4.50₾11.92
84.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$9.13₾24.17
26.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.90₾2.38
236.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.65₾4.38
3.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.80₾4.76
13.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.99₾2.63
108.08%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.65₾1.72
216.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.62₾1.63
250.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$1.22₾3.23
14.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.70₾1.85
60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.93₾7.75
46.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$3.77₾9.99
308.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.46₾3.87
14.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.21₾5.85
66.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.23₾0.60
65.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$10.66₾28.25
78.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.31₾3.48
5.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.35₾0.93
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$3.56₾9.42
52.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.10₾2.91
16.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$18.4K₾48.8K
3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$8,992₾23.8K
160.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$73.5₾195
-44.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$7.41₾19.62
263.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$11.05₾29.27
168.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$25.38₾67.2
106.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$18.42₾48.79
42.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$6.61₾17.51
-6.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$268₾709
59.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$5,143₾13.6K
108.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$73.3₾194
-22.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$43.75₾116
2.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$105₾277
-0.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$103₾273
2.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$253₾670
293.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$239₾634
159.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$447₾1,185
375.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$296₾785
323.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,045₾2,767
273.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$746₾1,976
180.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Rustavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$431₾1,143
156.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.89
-4.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Rustavi: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $253 in Rustavi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 157% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $29.00 in Rustavi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $175 per month, with Rustavi 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 Rustavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Rustavi?
Mexico City and Rustavi differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $872 including rent). Rustavi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Rustavi?
Mexico City pays 157% more on average, 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 Rustavi?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $253 in Rustavi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Rustavi?
A monthly transit pass in Rustavi runs roughly 79% 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 Rustavi?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $268 in Rustavi. 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 $872 in Rustavi versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rustavi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Rustavi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Rustavi?
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 Rustavi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Rustavi 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 Rustavi?
Expats usually find Rustavi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% 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