😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,560 in Szczecinek.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,253 in Szczecinek.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,945 in Szczecinek.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 6% more expensive than in Szczecinek, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Szczecinek14% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$11.89zł 45.23
0.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$45.68zł 174
12.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$9.30zł 35.35
22.69%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$3.63zł 13.80
9.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.19zł 4.53
39.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.93zł 3.53
43.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$3.21zł 12.20
8.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$1.48zł 5.62
298.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$0.93zł 3.53
102.15%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.25zł 4.77
160.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$1.42zł 5.39
52.11%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$3.77zł 14.35
-23.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$7.78zł 29.60
65.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$6.18zł 23.52
62.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$13.64zł 51.9
16.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$1.23zł 4.66
167.48%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.18zł 4.49
70.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.74zł 6.61
26.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$2.58zł 9.80
-8.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.75zł 2.87
173.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$0.84zł 3.20
126.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.34zł 5.10
20.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.73zł 2.78
91.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$6.00zł 22.82
-9.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$7.94zł 30.20
122.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.22zł 4.65
68.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$1.48zł 5.63
216.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$1.27zł 4.84
-73.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$33.80zł 129
-38.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$2.44zł 9.26
-13.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.05zł 3.97
-46.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$12.06zł 45.87
-51.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.51zł 5.75
6.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$31.6Kzł 120.2K
-27.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$28.1Kzł 107.0K
-4.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$300zł 1,142
-78.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$8.30zł 31.58
262.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$19.19zł 73.0
93.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$38.95zł 148
53.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$24.34zł 92.6
9.08%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.89zł 29.99
-10.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$213zł 810
118.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$7,927zł 30.1K
67.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$85.1zł 323
-10.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$38.58zł 147
45.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$88.8zł 338
26.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$115zł 435
5.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$587zł 2,231
87.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$549zł 2,089
31.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,058zł 4,022
139.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$911zł 3,464
42.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$2,648zł 10.1K
50.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$2,352zł 8,945
-11.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Szczecinek
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$1,331zł 5,063
-22.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.2
169.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Szczecinek: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $587 in Szczecinek. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szczecinek pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $46.00 in Szczecinek for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $214 per month, with Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Szczecinek?
Mexico City and Szczecinek differ by about 6% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,560 including rent). Szczecinek is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Szczecinek. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Szczecinek?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $587 in Szczecinek. 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 Szczecinek?
A monthly transit pass in Szczecinek runs roughly 62% 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 Szczecinek?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $213 in Szczecinek. 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 $1,560 in Szczecinek versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Szczecinek but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Szczecinek the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Szczecinek?
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 Szczecinek safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Szczecinek 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 Szczecinek?
Expats usually find Szczecinek gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% 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