😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $800 in Struga.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,199 in Struga.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,598 in Struga.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 81% more expensive than Struga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Struga is 40% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$7.72MKD 410
68.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$30.59MKD 1,623
71.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$4.64MKD 246
103.23%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.56MKD 82.9
128.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.71MKD 90.6
-5.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.23MKD 65.3
-6.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$2.70MKD 143
16.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$3.40MKD 180
42.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.14MKD 60.5
49.12%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.68MKD 36.07
288.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.69MKD 89.6
12.43%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.99MKD 106
27.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$6.78MKD 360
48.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$5.62MKD 298
47.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$9.50MKD 504
21.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.55MKD 29.10
450.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.29MKD 68.7
32.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$0.96MKD 50.9
113.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.15MKD 61.1
79.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.78MKD 41.26
164.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.96MKD 50.9
126.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.58MKD 30.63
141.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.40MKD 21.02
180.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.27MKD 174
31.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$4.63MKD 246
232.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.10MKD 58.3
51.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.01MKD 53.8
265.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.69MKD 36.42
-44.93%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$19.91MKD 1,056
-4.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.93MKD 49.09
48.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.53MKD 28.31
-47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$7.54MKD 400
-28.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.46MKD 77.7
-12.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$34.3KMKD 1.8M
-44.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$29.8KMKD 1.6M
-21.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$92.5MKD 4,910
-55.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$15.25MKD 809
76.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$19.70MKD 1,045
50.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$26.47MKD 1,404
97.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$22.13MKD 1,174
18.53%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$6.42MKD 341
-3.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$324MKD 17.2K
31.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$1,183MKD 62.7K
804.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$77.0MKD 4,085
-26.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$27.65MKD 1,467
62.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$66.3MKD 3,519
57.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$37.22MKD 1,975
184.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$283MKD 15.0K
251.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$230MKD 12.2K
170.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$393MKD 20.9K
440.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$330MKD 17.5K
280.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,552MKD 82.4K
151.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,413MKD 75.0K
48.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Struga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$970MKD 51.4K
14.19%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Struga: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $283 in Struga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 14% 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 $288 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 81% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $800 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 14% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $283 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 4% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $324 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 $800 in Struga versus $1,447 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 81% 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