😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $862 in Struga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,320 in Struga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $1,778 in Struga.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 95% more expensive than in Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Struga is 37% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$7.69MKD 403
53.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$29.26MKD 1,534
78.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$5.06MKD 265
114.82%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$1.54MKD 80.8
161.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.75MKD 92.0
-2.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$1.20MKD 62.8
11.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$2.88MKD 151
17.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$3.19MKD 167
79.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.24MKD 64.9
52.42%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.66MKD 34.51
380.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$1.56MKD 81.7
31.41%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$1.90MKD 99.5
58.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$7.08MKD 371
78.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$6.07MKD 318
63.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$11.47MKD 601
39.49%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$1.26MKD 65.9
160.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.39MKD 72.9
48.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.27MKD 66.6
64.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$1.53MKD 80.4
63.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$0.86MKD 45.13
138.37%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$0.86MKD 45.08
117.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$0.60MKD 31.67
161.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.59MKD 30.81
135.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$3.48MKD 182
54.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$3.82MKD 200
369.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$1.10MKD 57.5
83.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$1.51MKD 79.2
215.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.89MKD 46.84
-59.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$57.6MKD 3,019
-63.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$1.15MKD 60.4
79.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.64MKD 33.59
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$5.15MKD 270
13.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.47MKD 77.2
4.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$36.8KMKD 1.9M
-39.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
-6.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$102MKD 5,325
-35.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$11.32MKD 594
173.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$19.64MKD 1,030
84.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$20.67MKD 1,084
178.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$12.14MKD 636
120.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$6.77MKD 355
5.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$122MKD 6,377
275.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$1,656MKD 86.8K
700.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$91.0MKD 4,773
-16.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$32.13MKD 1,685
68.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$75.4MKD 3,952
54.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$55.3MKD 2,900
120.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$280MKD 14.7K
309.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$227MKD 11.9K
219.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$453MKD 23.7K
453.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$370MKD 19.4K
259.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$1,565MKD 82.1K
148.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$1,419MKD 74.4K
51.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$901MKD 47.2K
18.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
3.75
202.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Struga: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $280 in Struga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 19% 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 $29.00 in Struga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $176 per month, with Struga 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 Struga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Struga?
Mexico City and Struga differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $862 including rent). Struga is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Struga?
Average pay runs 19% 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 Struga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $280 in Struga. 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 Struga?
A monthly transit pass in Struga runs roughly 177% 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 Struga?
Childcare runs $457 in Mexico City versus $122 in Struga. 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 $862 in Struga versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Struga but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Struga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Struga?
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 Struga safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Struga 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 Struga?
Expats usually find Struga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% 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