😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $902 in Samsun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,603 in Samsun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,304 in Samsun.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 84% more expensive than in Samsun, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Samsun is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$8.10₺394
47.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$62.4₺3,037
-17.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$7.74₺377
47.42%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$3.21₺156
24.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$0.95₺46.15
74.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.27₺13.16
392.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$1.93₺93.8
79.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.70₺132
118.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.17₺56.9
60.68%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.67₺81.5
94.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$2.73₺133
-20.88%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$2.58₺126
12.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$8.59₺418
49.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.69₺277
76.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$24.40₺1,187
-35.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.44₺119
34.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.37₺115
-15.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.54₺74.9
42.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$1.06₺51.5
122.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.48₺23.16
327.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$0.37₺18.04
413.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.84₺41.11
91.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.58₺28.04
141.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$2.09₺101
161.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$9.45₺460
86.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.70₺82.7
21.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$2.28₺111
105.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.56₺27.35
-39.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$10.78₺525
93.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$1.90₺92.5
10.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.58₺28.00
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$5.12₺249
13.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.26₺61.1
27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$41.9K₺2.0M
-45.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$39.7K₺1.9M
-32.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$89.1₺4,335
-26.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$11.67₺568
157.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$12.58₺612
195.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$30.64₺1,491
95.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$6.10₺297
335.25%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.18₺203
68.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$261₺12.7K
78.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$27.96₺1,361
171.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$30.69₺1,493
82.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$71.5₺3,477
56.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$48.71₺2,370
147.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$357₺17.4K
208.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$255₺12.4K
182.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$759₺36.9K
233.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$615₺29.9K
110.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$986₺48.0K
304.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$663₺32.2K
215.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Samsun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$927₺45.1K
11.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
49
-76.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Samsun: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $357 in Samsun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 12% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $62.0 in Samsun. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $259, with Samsun 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 Samsun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Samsun?
Mexico City and Samsun differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $902 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?
Average pay runs 12% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Samsun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $357 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 in Samsun?
A monthly transit pass in Samsun runs roughly 93% 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 $465 in Mexico City versus $261 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 $902 in Samsun versus $1,660 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 84% 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