😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $895 in Strumica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,268 in Strumica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $1,640 in Strumica.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 88% more expensive than in Strumica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Strumica is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$3.70MKD 194
219.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$23.79MKD 1,248
119.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$3.70MKD 194
193.78%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$1.58MKD 82.8
155.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.44MKD 75.3
18.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$1.22MKD 63.8
9.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.92MKD 101
76.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$2.13MKD 112
169.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.28MKD 67.0
47.66%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.75MKD 39.24
322.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$1.82MKD 95.5
12.64%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$2.28MKD 120
32.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$8.63MKD 452
46.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$6.36MKD 333
56.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$10.20MKD 535
56.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$0.63MKD 33.21
420.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.40MKD 73.3
47.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.23MKD 64.6
69.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$2.14MKD 112
16.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$0.85MKD 44.33
141.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$0.82MKD 43.04
128.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$0.60MKD 31.29
161.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.58MKD 30.62
139.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$2.89MKD 152
86.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$5.55MKD 291
223.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$0.90MKD 47.37
124.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$1.20MKD 63.0
296.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.71MKD 37.36
-49.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$1.11MKD 58.1
85.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.64MKD 33.41
-12.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$7.67MKD 402
-24.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.61MKD 84.5
-4.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$37.2KMKD 2.0M
-39.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$27.7KMKD 1.5M
-4.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$158MKD 8,268
-58.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$13.36MKD 700
131.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$19.12MKD 1,003
89.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$20.92MKD 1,097
175.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$6.95MKD 365
2.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$377MKD 19.8K
21.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$5,552MKD 291.1K
138.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$90.8MKD 4,763
-16.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$40.01MKD 2,098
35.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$108MKD 5,662
7.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$93.4MKD 4,898
30.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$314MKD 16.5K
264.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$245MKD 12.8K
196.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$497MKD 26.0K
404.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$306MKD 16.0K
335.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$1,529MKD 80.2K
154.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$1,014MKD 53.2K
111.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$662MKD 34.7K
61.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
4
183.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Strumica: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $314 in Strumica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 62% 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 $24.00 in Strumica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $184 per month, with Strumica 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 Strumica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Strumica?
Mexico City and Strumica differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $895 including rent). Strumica is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Strumica?
Average pay runs 62% 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 Strumica?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $314 in Strumica. 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 Strumica?
Childcare runs $457 in Mexico City versus $377 in Strumica. 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 Strumica – a meal for two runs $24.00 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 $1,000 per month?
At $895 in Strumica versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Strumica but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Strumica the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Strumica?
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 Strumica safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Strumica 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 Strumica?
Expats usually find Strumica gentler on the wallet – expenses run 88% 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