😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,299 in Schaan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,226 in Schaan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $3,154 in Schaan.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 13% more expensive than Schaan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Schaan is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$27.76CHF 21.89
-52.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$81.3CHF 64.1
-33.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$14.64CHF 11.54
-35.66%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$6.60CHF 5.21
-46.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$3.09CHF 2.44
-47.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$5.99CHF 4.72
-81.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$5.06CHF 3.99
-38.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$3.68CHF 2.90
25.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.94CHF 1.53
-12.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$4.96CHF 3.91
-45.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
-
-
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$6.06CHF 4.78
-58.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$29.16CHF 22.99
-65.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$24.30CHF 19.16
-66.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$48.52CHF 38.25
-76.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
-
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
-
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
-
-
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$8.75CHF 6.90
-76.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
-
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
-
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
-
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$2.41CHF 1.90
-53.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$12.61CHF 9.94
23.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$2.49CHF 1.96
-84.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$2.43CHF 1.92
-46.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$86.3CHF 68.0
-52.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$33.81CHF 26.65
-20.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$44.23CHF 34.87
-32.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$124CHF 98.0
-58.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$19.84CHF 15.65
-68.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$1,831CHF 1,444
-44.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$3,072CHF 2,422
-30.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$10.3KCHF 8,084
-61.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$6,324CHF 4,986
-67.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Schaan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$9,008CHF 7,102
-87.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4
183.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Schaan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,831 in Schaan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Schaan pays 708% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $81.0 in Schaan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $546 per month, with Mexico City 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 Schaan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Schaan?
Mexico City and Schaan differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,299 including rent). Schaan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Schaan earns 708% less. 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 Schaan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,831 in Schaan. 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 Schaan – a meal for two runs $81.0 versus $54.0 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 Schaan?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $1,299 in Schaan – a 13% 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 $1,299 in Schaan versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Schaan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Schaan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Schaan?
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 Schaan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Schaan 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 Schaan?
Expats usually find Schaan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% 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