๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $1,055 in Szeged.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $1,657 in Szeged.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $2,258 in Szeged.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 39% more expensive than Szeged, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Szeged is 21% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$7.82Ftย 2,432
70.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$45.23Ftย 14.1K
18.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.65Ftย 1,759
66.73%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.96Ftย 609
83.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.36Ftย 423
19.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.98Ftย 305
14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$2.33Ftย 724
39.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$2.16Ftย 672
115.28%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.11Ftย 344
47.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$1.53Ftย 477
73.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$1.85Ftย 575
5.95%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$2.95Ftย 919
-13.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$7.82Ftย 2,435
27.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$5.62Ftย 1,749
49.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
$10.94Ftย 3,403
8.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$1.92Ftย 598
48.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$1.85Ftย 575
-6.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$2.04Ftย 634
-2.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$2.81Ftย 875
-27.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.05Ftย 328
96.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$1.19Ftย 371
91.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$1.45Ftย 450
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$0.48Ftย 149
127.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$7.14Ftย 2,221
-40.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$5.18Ftย 1,612
183.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$1.00Ftย 312
76.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$1.20Ftย 372
197.50%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$1.56Ftย 486
-75.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
$27.50Ftย 8,555
-31.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$2.78Ftย 864
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
$1.27Ftย 396
-76.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$17.38Ftย 5,408
-68.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$1.75Ftย 544
-23.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$25.8KFtย 8.0M
-27.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$25.6KFtย 8.0M
-9.22%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$106Ftย 33.0K
-61.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$24.82Ftย 7,723
9.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$19.19Ftย 5,970
53.52%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$40.56Ftย 12.6K
30.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
$20.08Ftย 6,249
30.33%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$7.84Ftย 2,440
-21.17%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$223Ftย 69.5K
97.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$6,248Ftย 1.9M
71.21%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$88.1Ftย 27.4K
-35.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$25.98Ftย 8,084
73.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$85.8Ftย 26.7K
20.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$106Ftย 33.1K
2.33%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$432Ftย 134.5K
131.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$339Ftย 105.4K
86.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$655Ftย 203.9K
226.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$536Ftย 166.9K
133.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$3,360Ftย 1.0M
11.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$2,468Ftย 767.9K
-3.53%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Szeged
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
$1,295Ftย 402.8K
-16.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.85
93.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Szeged: April 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $432 in Szeged. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSzeged pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $45 in Szeged for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $208 per month, with Szeged 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 Szeged: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Szeged?
Mexico City and Szeged differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $1,055 including rent). Szeged is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Szeged earns 20% less. 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 Szeged?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $432 in Szeged. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Szeged?
A monthly transit pass in Szeged runs roughly 47% 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 Szeged?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $223 in Szeged. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,055 in Szeged versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szeged but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Szeged the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Szeged?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Szeged safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Szeged 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 Szeged?
Expats usually find Szeged gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 39% 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