😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,424 in Saldus.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,195 in Saldus.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,966 in Saldus.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 4% more expensive than Saldus, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Saldus6% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$226
$17.47€14.92
-25.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$923
$69.2€59.1
-23.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$169
$9.48€8.09
2.53%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.2
$3.51€3.00
6.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.30
$1.81€1.54
-13.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.64
$1.30€1.11
-13.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.3
$5.81€4.96
-45.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.1
$5.78€4.94
-19.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.21
$1.36€1.16
19.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.09
$1.64€1.40
65.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.70
$3.02€2.58
-37.75%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.65
$3.26€2.78
-23.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$175
$12.05€10.29
-16.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$7.70€6.58
7.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$208
$11.93€10.19
0.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.77
$1.68€1.43
70.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.45
$1.88€1.60
-6.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.27
$2.67€2.28
-22.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.27
$3.56€3.04
-44.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.58
$1.04€0.89
107.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.94
$1.07€0.91
103.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.20
$1.76€1.50
-21.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.57
$0.84€0.72
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.1
$5.68€4.85
-26.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$248
$8.24€7.03
72.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.88€1.61
-6.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.1
$2.25€1.92
63.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.96€0.82
-59.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$325
$36.28€30.98
-48.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.12
$2.82€2.41
-50.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.29
$0.81€0.70
-62.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.3
$13.73€11.73
-60.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.50
$1.79€1.53
-24.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$328.6K
$31.0K€26.5K
-39.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.8K
$31.6K€27.0K
-26.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$710
$331€282
-87.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$479
$19.87€16.97
38.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$529
$19.99€17.07
51.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$930
$50.5€43.13
5.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$11.39€9.72
-44.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,588
$548€468
-20.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.1K
$15.6K€13.3K
-32.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$988
$90.0€76.9
-36.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$779
$45.97€39.26
-2.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,789
$96.8€82.7
6.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$134€114
-19.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.4K
$354€302
182.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.8K
$259€221
139.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.2K
$752€642
184.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.5K
$454€388
172.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.3K
$1,490€1,272
159.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.6K
$944€806
147.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saldus
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.6K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Saldus: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $354 in Saldus. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $69.0 in Saldus. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $266, 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 Saldus?
Mexico City and Saldus differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,424 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 $2,225 in Mexico City and $2,136 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 Saldus?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $354 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 Saldus?
A monthly transit pass in Saldus runs roughly 94% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $548 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 $1,424 in Saldus versus $1,484 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 4% 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