🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $3,132 in Schaffhausen.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $4,926 in Schaffhausen.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $6,720 in Schaffhausen.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 54% less than in Schaffhausen, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City8% above, Schaffhausen133% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$30.39CHF 24.29
-57.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$918
$124CHF 99.4
-57.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$165
$15.82CHF 12.65
-40.39%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$62.3
$5.42CHF 4.33
-34.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$28.02
$5.36CHF 4.28
-69.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$20.14
$4.37CHF 3.49
-73.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$55.0
$7.95CHF 6.36
-60.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$84.8
$7.35CHF 5.88
-33.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.66
$1.96CHF 1.57
-13.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.99
$3.77CHF 3.01
-29.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$33.22
$3.61CHF 2.88
-47.37%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.35
$7.87CHF 6.29
-67.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$29.45CHF 23.54
-65.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$35.04CHF 28.01
-76.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$202
$51.8CHF 41.39
-77.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.8
$3.68CHF 2.94
-17.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.85
$2.33CHF 1.86
-26.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.76
$2.94CHF 2.35
-30.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.95
$6.14CHF 4.91
-66.45%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$36.03
$2.42CHF 1.94
-14.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.87
$2.49CHF 1.99
-12.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.49
$2.56CHF 2.05
-45.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.58
$1.28CHF 1.02
-12.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$74.9
$10.97CHF 8.77
-60.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$269
$12.33CHF 9.85
24.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$29.23
$1.37CHF 1.09
21.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$64.3
$2.71CHF 2.16
36.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.66
$3.98CHF 3.18
-90.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$333
$87.3CHF 69.7
-78.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.10
$10.15CHF 8.11
-86.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.82
$3.89CHF 3.11
-92.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.5
$60.6CHF 48.41
-91.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$22.35
$2.21CHF 1.76
-42.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$331.3K
$40.3KCHF 32.2K
-52.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$409.5K
$42.6KCHF 34.1K
-44.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$716
$247CHF 197
-83.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$470
$28.92CHF 23.11
-6.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$518
$43.93CHF 35.11
-32.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$913
$109CHF 87.2
-52.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$458
$47.61CHF 38.06
-44.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$108
$22.53CHF 18.01
-72.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,454
$3,388CHF 2,708
-87.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$186.7K
$42.4KCHF 33.9K
-74.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$992
$111CHF 89.1
-49.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$782
$66.4CHF 53.1
-32.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,824
$129CHF 103
-19.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,849
$155CHF 124
-31.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.4K
$1,216CHF 972
-18.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.8K
$1,222CHF 977
-49.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$37.1K
$2,692CHF 2,152
-21.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.9K
$2,197CHF 1,756
-42.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.1K
$8,390CHF 6,706
-53.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.6K
$6,769CHF 5,410
-69.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Schaffhausen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.3K
$9,336CHF 7,463
-88.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
2.5
353.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Schaffhausen: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $1,216 in Schaffhausen. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Schaffhausen pays 743% 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 $124 in Schaffhausen for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $672 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 Schaffhausen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Schaffhausen?
Mexico City and Schaffhausen differ by about 116% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $3,132 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Schaffhausen earns 743% 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 Schaffhausen?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $1,216 in Schaffhausen. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Schaffhausen?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 358% less than in Schaffhausen. 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 Schaffhausen?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $3,388 in Schaffhausen. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,447 in Mexico City versus $3,132 in Schaffhausen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Schaffhausen. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Schaffhausen?
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 Schaffhausen safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 116% less than in Schaffhausen. 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