Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saldus Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Saldus

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,440 in Saldus.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $2,163 in Saldus.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,885 in Saldus.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 2% more expensive than in Saldus, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Saldus 8% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14 MX$229
$17.69 €15.42
-25.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$934
$68.6 €59.8
-21.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$163
$9.06 €7.89
2.98%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.5
$3.46 €3.02
6.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.98
$1.79 €1.56
-10.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$1.31 €1.14
-14.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$5.84 €5.09
-46.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.5
$5.71 €4.98
-15.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.84
$1.33 €1.16
24.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.34
$1.68 €1.47
61.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.29
$2.98 €2.60
-35.91%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.17
$3.26 €2.84
-20.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$171
$12.37 €10.78
-20.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$7.74 €6.75
8.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$208
$11.94 €10.41
-0.08%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$1.67 €1.46
76.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.35
$1.93 €1.68
-9.84%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.66
$2.55 €2.22
-20.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.93
$3.58 €3.12
-42.46%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.49
$1.08 €0.94
99.07%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.33
$1.06 €0.92
113.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.17
$1.72 €1.50
-19.19%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.47
$0.86 €0.75
30.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.6
$5.91 €5.15
-28.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$305
$8.11 €7.07
115.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.82
$1.87 €1.63
-8.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.4
$2.25 €1.96
61.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.15
$0.93 €0.81
-62.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$337
$36.09 €31.47
-46.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$24.00
$2.92 €2.55
-52.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$0.79 €0.69
-64.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$92.0
$13.75 €11.98
-61.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.69
$1.87 €1.63
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$333.2K
$30.3K €26.4K
-36.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.7K
$31.9K €27.8K
-25.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$707
$326 €284
-87.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$478
$19.70 €17.18
38.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$530
$20.31 €17.70
49.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$911
$51.2 €44.62
2.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$462
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$108
$11.79 €10.28
-47.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,414
$545 €475
-21.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$187.2K
$15.4K €13.4K
-30.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,017
$90.7 €79.1
-35.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$777
$45.71 €39.85
-2.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,805
$96.7 €84.3
6.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,897
$136 €119
-20.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.7K
$361 €315
180.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$259 €226
140.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$37.0K
$748 €652
183.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.3K
$451 €394
171.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$66.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.63
144.92%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Saldus: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $361 in Saldus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $69.0 in Saldus. Groceries flip the comparison at $293 vs $267, with Saldus 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 Saldus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Saldus?
Mexico City and Saldus differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,440 including rent). Saldus 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 Saldus?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $2,160 in Saldus 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 Saldus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $361 in Saldus. 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 Saldus?
A monthly transit pass in Saldus runs roughly 87% 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 Saldus?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $545 in Saldus. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,440 in Saldus versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saldus but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saldus the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Saldus?
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 Saldus safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Saldus 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 Saldus?
Expats usually find Saldus gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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