😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $808 in Struga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,194 in Struga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,580 in Struga.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 84% more expensive than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Struga is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$7.47MKD 394
73.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$30.53MKD 1,610
73.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$4.74MKD 250
105.06%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.58MKD 83.1
137.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.78MKD 93.7
-11.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$1.23MKD 64.8
-8.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.65MKD 140
20.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.35MKD 177
39.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.19MKD 62.8
36.13%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.67MKD 35.56
304.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.76MKD 92.8
6.82%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.07MKD 109
21.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.68MKD 352
50.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.49MKD 289
51.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$9.31MKD 491
28.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$0.55MKD 28.88
420.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.32MKD 69.7
32.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$0.95MKD 50.3
118.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.16MKD 61.0
69.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.72MKD 38.09
200.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.99MKD 52.0
120.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.58MKD 30.47
139.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.40MKD 20.93
180.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.26MKD 172
28.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$4.63MKD 244
207.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.10MKD 57.9
60.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.00MKD 53.0
268.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.63MKD 33.22
-38.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$20.30MKD 1,070
-8.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.96MKD 50.8
44.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.50MKD 26.25
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$7.54MKD 398
-28.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.47MKD 77.6
-8.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$33.6KMKD 1.8M
-43.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$29.9KMKD 1.6M
-22.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$90.7MKD 4,783
-55.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$15.09MKD 796
82.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$19.15MKD 1,010
58.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$26.68MKD 1,407
100.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$22.16MKD 1,169
18.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.38MKD 336
-1.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$323MKD 17.0K
35.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$1,180MKD 62.2K
786.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$78.3MKD 4,127
-27.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$27.71MKD 1,461
61.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$67.0MKD 3,531
53.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$37.26MKD 1,965
189.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$287MKD 15.1K
248.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$230MKD 12.1K
170.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$387MKD 20.4K
452.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$318MKD 16.8K
287.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,626MKD 85.7K
137.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,431MKD 75.5K
62.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,009MKD 53.2K
5.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
3.5
224.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Struga: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $287 in Struga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 6% 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 $31.00 in Struga for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $158 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 Struga?
Mexico City and Struga differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $808 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?
Mexico City pays 6% more on average, 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 Struga?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $287 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 Struga?
A monthly transit pass in Struga runs roughly 9% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $323 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 $808 in Struga versus $1,484 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 84% 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