😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,010 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,499 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,988 in Samsun.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 47% more expensive than Samsun, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Samsun is 25% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$7.66₺346
69.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$25.00₺1,129
112.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$8.71₺393
11.60%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.77₺125
35.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.30₺58.6
20.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.26₺11.77
334.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.94₺133
8.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.04₺137
53.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.07₺48.29
51.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.36₺16.34
652.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$3.85₺174
-51.17%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.72₺77.5
45.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.62₺389
16.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$9.97₺450
-16.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$19.19₺866
-37.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.24₺55.8
130.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.11₺49.98
57.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$0.92₺41.40
126.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.24₺56.1
58.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.61₺27.44
254.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.60₺27.27
263.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.74₺33.46
87.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.67₺30.20
67.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.11₺95.1
99.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.86₺355
81.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.05₺92.7
-14.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.56₺116
43.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.55₺24.65
-29.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$9.47₺428
97.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$2.21₺99.9
-37.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.64₺29.00
-53.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$4.68₺211
15.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.13₺50.9
19.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$42.5K₺1.9M
-55.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$50.2K₺2.3M
-53.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$50.2₺2,266
-18.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$10.90₺492
152.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$11.28₺509
169.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$81.1₺3,659
-34.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.88₺265
6.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$511₺23.1K
-14.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,745₺169.1K
179.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$37.61₺1,698
50.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$44.91₺2,027
-0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$88.2₺3,982
16.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$43.58₺1,967
147.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$494₺22.3K
102.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$336₺15.2K
84.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$737₺33.3K
189.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$528₺23.8K
134.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$3,685₺166.3K
4.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$3,055₺137.9K
-23.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,030₺46.5K
3.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
43.33
-73.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Samsun: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $494 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 4% 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 $25.00 in Samsun for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $238 per month, with Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Samsun?
Mexico City and Samsun differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,010 including rent). Samsun is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Samsun?
Mexico City pays 4% 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 Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $494 in Samsun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Samsun?
A monthly transit pass in Samsun runs roughly 97% 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 Samsun?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $511 in Samsun. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,010 in Samsun versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Samsun but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Samsun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Samsun?
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 Samsun safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Samsun 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 Samsun?
Expats usually find Samsun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% 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