😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,084 in Scottburgh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,663 in Scottburgh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,242 in Scottburgh.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 53% more expensive than in Scottburgh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Scottburgh is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$7.87R 128
51.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$39.52R 642
30.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$6.16R 100
85.23%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$2.88R 46.77
38.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$1.12R 18.18
48.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.87R 14.09
52.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$2.51R 40.85
38.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.71R 44.00
117.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$0.99R 16.02
89.90%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$1.02R 16.53
218.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.55R 25.11
39.35%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$2.45R 39.77
18.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$8.38R 136
53.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$3.10R 50.3
224.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$6.09R 99.0
160.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$0.64R 10.44
414.06%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$0.93R 15.09
116.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.91R 14.82
141.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.03R 16.81
129.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$0.65R 10.49
215.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.45R 23.54
31.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.49R 7.95
228.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.65R 10.49
115.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$3.07R 49.86
77.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$3.21R 52.1
449.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.52R 24.69
35.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.99R 32.39
135.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$1.52R 24.66
-77.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.45R 7.30
366.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.78R 12.66
-28.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$7.67R 125
-24.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.48R 24.05
8.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$36.8KR 597.9K
-37.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$33.1KR 537.7K
-19.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$144R 2,342
-54.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$34.89R 567
-13.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$41.39R 672
-10.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$33.64R 546
77.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$6.93R 113
1.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$335R 5,442
38.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$7,911R 128.5K
67.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$56.6R 919
34.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$30.59R 497
82.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$99.1R 1,610
12.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$89.6R 1,455
34.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$431R 7,009
155.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$379R 6,157
90.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$811R 13.2K
212.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$766R 12.4K
68.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$879R 14.3K
353.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$679R 11.0K
207.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Scottburgh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.81
-4.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Scottburgh: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $431 in Scottburgh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $40.00 in Scottburgh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $145 per month, with Scottburgh 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 Scottburgh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Scottburgh?
Mexico City and Scottburgh differ by about 53% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,084 including rent). Scottburgh 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 Scottburgh?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,625 in Scottburgh 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 in Scottburgh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $431 in Scottburgh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Scottburgh?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $335 in Scottburgh. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Scottburgh – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,084 in Scottburgh versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Scottburgh but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Scottburgh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Scottburgh?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Scottburgh?
Expats usually find Scottburgh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 53% 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