😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $875 in Strumica.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,251 in Strumica.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,627 in Strumica.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 65% more expensive than Strumica, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Strumica is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$3.71MKD 197
249.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$28.68MKD 1,522
83.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$4.97MKD 264
89.74%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.67MKD 88.8
113.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.46MKD 77.2
10.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$1.12MKD 59.3
2.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.84MKD 97.6
71.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.18MKD 116
122.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.33MKD 70.6
27.82%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.72MKD 38.31
266.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.77MKD 93.9
7.34%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.08MKD 111
22.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$10.36MKD 550
-2.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.37MKD 338
30.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$10.38MKD 551
11.46%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.68MKD 36.07
345.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.37MKD 72.7
24.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.23MKD 65.3
66.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.61MKD 85.5
27.95%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.92MKD 48.86
123.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.84MKD 44.56
158.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.58MKD 30.84
141.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.54MKD 28.60
107.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.78MKD 148
54.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$5.51MKD 293
179.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$0.98MKD 52.0
70.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.20MKD 63.9
207.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.73MKD 38.56
-47.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$20.59MKD 1,092
-7.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.10MKD 58.3
25.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.49MKD 26.24
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$6.75MKD 358
-19.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.50MKD 79.5
-14.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$31.5KMKD 1.7M
-39.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$33.3KMKD 1.8M
-29.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$143MKD 7,586
-71.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$13.40MKD 711
100.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$15.59MKD 827
90.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$20.32MKD 1,078
157.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$4.68MKD 248
32.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$223MKD 11.8K
91.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$1,207MKD 64.1K
785.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$76.1MKD 4,036
-25.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$48.25MKD 2,560
-7.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$73.9MKD 3,922
41.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$93.0MKD 4,935
13.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$324MKD 17.2K
207.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$244MKD 13.0K
154.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$511MKD 27.1K
316.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$300MKD 15.9K
317.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,478MKD 78.4K
164.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,004MKD 53.3K
108.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Strumica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$664MKD 35.3K
66.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4
183.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Strumica: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $324 in Strumica. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 67% 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 $29.00 in Strumica for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $186 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 Strumica?
Mexico City and Strumica differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $875 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?
Mexico City pays 67% 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 Strumica?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $324 in Strumica. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Strumica?
A monthly transit pass in Strumica runs roughly 8% 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 Strumica?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $223 in Strumica. 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 $875 in Strumica versus $1,447 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 65% 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