😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,550 in Saint-Leu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,445 in Saint-Leu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $3,341 in Saint-Leu.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 7% more expensive than in Saint-Leu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Saint-Leu13% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$28.91€25.16
-58.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$91.2€79.4
-43.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$2.93€2.55
36.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
-
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$1.19€1.04
11.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$8.26€7.19
-57.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$5.83€5.07
1.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.13€0.98
66.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$1.26€1.10
157.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$2.28€1.98
-5.26%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$4.71€4.10
-38.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$23.66€20.60
-45.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$3.43€2.98
-4.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.78€1.55
12.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$2.26€1.97
-2.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$3.39€2.95
-30.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$2.29€1.99
-10.48%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$2.29€1.99
-17.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.83€0.72
68.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$15.02€13.07
-63.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$5.80€5.05
204.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.72€1.49
19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$2.00€1.74
-19.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$97.8€85.1
-33.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$10.66€9.28
182.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$35.35€30.77
5.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$34.38€29.93
73.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$10.60€9.23
-33.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$1,182€1,029
-6.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$822€716
-12.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$2,108€1,835
20.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,400€1,219
-7.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saint-Leu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$2,122€1,847
-51.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4
182.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Saint-Leu: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,182 in Saint-Leu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Saint-Leu pays 105% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $91.0 in Saint-Leu. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $218, with Saint-Leu 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 Saint-Leu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Saint-Leu?
Mexico City and Saint-Leu differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,550 including rent). Saint-Leu 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 105% lower in Saint-Leu. 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 Saint-Leu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,182 in Saint-Leu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Saint-Leu – a meal for two runs $91.0 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Saint-Leu?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,550 in Saint-Leu – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,550 in Saint-Leu versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saint-Leu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saint-Leu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Saint-Leu?
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 Saint-Leu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Saint-Leu 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 Saint-Leu?
Expats usually find Saint-Leu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% 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