Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sibiu Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sibiu

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,074 in Sibiu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,655 in Sibiu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,236 in Sibiu.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 36% more expensive than in Sibiu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sibiu is 20% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$9.30 RON 42.68
40.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$45.72 RON 210
17.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$6.98 RON 32.03
38.68%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$3.11 RON 14.28
20.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.07 RON 9.50
-21.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$1.71 RON 7.87
-32.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$2.82 RON 12.95
14.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$3.42 RON 15.68
38.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$1.51 RON 6.95
9.27%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$1.26 RON 5.76
118.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$1.54 RON 7.08
21.43%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$3.22 RON 14.80
-22.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$7.88 RON 36.16
29.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$6.34 RON 29.12
30.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$9.11 RON 41.80
29.75%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$1.16 RON 5.31
159.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$1.57 RON 7.20
15.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$1.65 RON 7.56
21.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$2.21 RON 10.16
-9.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$0.77 RON 3.54
170.13%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$0.87 RON 4.02
160.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$1.05 RON 4.83
39.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$0.86 RON 3.96
25.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$5.90 RON 27.09
-26.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$8.32 RON 38.21
104.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$0.99 RON 4.54
74.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$1.80 RON 8.26
98.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$0.72 RON 3.29
-45.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
$19.78 RON 90.8
-5.51%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$0.90 RON 4.15
47.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$0.83 RON 3.79
-66.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$9.11 RON 41.84
-42.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$1.65 RON 7.59
-18.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$28.4K RON 130.5K
-31.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$26.4K RON 121.2K
-9.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$140 RON 643
-70.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$8.87 RON 40.72
202.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$11.42 RON 52.4
167.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$40.55 RON 186
30.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
$15.36 RON 70.5
73.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$7.11 RON 32.63
-8.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$437 RON 2,007
-2.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$6,874 RON 31.6K
52.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$67.9 RON 312
-15.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$38.54 RON 177
18.06%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$85.1 RON 391
22.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$94.4 RON 433
14.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$376 RON 1,726
166.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$323 RON 1,482
92.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$690 RON 3,169
205.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$558 RON 2,563
118.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$2,531 RON 11.6K
53.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$2,061 RON 9,460
-1.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sibiu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$1,147 RON 5,266
-9.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.5
74.46%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sibiu: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $376 in Sibiu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sibiu pays 11% 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 $46.00 in Sibiu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $206 per month, with Sibiu 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 Sibiu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sibiu?
Mexico City and Sibiu differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,074 including rent). Sibiu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 11% lower in Sibiu. 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 in Sibiu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $376 in Sibiu. 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 Sibiu?
A monthly transit pass in Sibiu runs roughly 6% 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 Sibiu?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $437 in Sibiu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,074 in Sibiu versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sibiu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sibiu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sibiu?
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 Sibiu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Sibiu 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 Sibiu?
Expats usually find Sibiu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% 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

Similar cities