😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,258 in Szombathely.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,005 in Szombathely.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,753 in Szombathely.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 32% more expensive than in Szombathely, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Szombathely is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$204
$12.59Ft 3,980
-5.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$884
$56.0Ft 17.7K
-7.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$8.98Ft 2,839
27.06%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.5
$2.47Ft 780
61.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.43
$1.40Ft 441
18.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.73
$1.33Ft 422
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.5
$1.85Ft 586
87.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$2.42Ft 764
143.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.15
$1.23Ft 390
52.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.8
$1.71Ft 540
90.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.03
$2.45Ft 774
-11.84%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.63
$3.43Ft 1,084
-15.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$220
$10.60Ft 3,352
21.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$172
$6.99Ft 2,211
43.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$16.95Ft 5,359
-6.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.5
$2.31Ft 731
42.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.38
$2.13Ft 675
-5.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.69
$2.56Ft 811
-14.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.37
$3.44Ft 1,086
-31.40%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.20
$1.17Ft 369
75.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.58
$1.44Ft 454
31.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.50
$1.90Ft 601
-15.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.93
$0.61Ft 192
129.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.6
$8.56Ft 2,708
-36.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$302
$4.73Ft 1,495
273.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.21
$1.32Ft 417
56.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.3
$2.66Ft 841
75.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.80
$0.86Ft 273
-60.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$27.69Ft 8,755
-24.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.93
$2.85Ft 901
-26.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.58
$1.40Ft 443
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.6
$24.55Ft 7,762
-76.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.51
$1.89Ft 598
-14.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$391.4K
$29.8KFt 9.4M
-23.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$458.3K
$33.9KFt 10.7M
-21.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,117
$173Ft 54.6K
-62.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$516
$21.19Ft 6,700
42.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$637
$21.29Ft 6,730
74.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,024
$49.16Ft 15.5K
21.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$455
$20.03Ft 6,332
32.55%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.63Ft 1,464
52.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,961
$437Ft 138.1K
6.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.4K
$8,042Ft 2.5M
65.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,300
$104Ft 33.0K
-27.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$959
$53.5Ft 16.9K
4.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,917
$99.1Ft 31.3K
12.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,065
$116Ft 36.7K
3.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$543Ft 171.8K
102.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.3K
$353Ft 111.7K
104.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.3K
$769Ft 243.3K
228.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$681Ft 215.2K
90.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.4K
$2,489Ft 786.9K
60.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.8K
$2,030Ft 641.9K
2.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$1,186Ft 375.0K
-12.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
7.5
50.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $543 in Szombathely. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szombathely pays 14% 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 $56.0 in Szombathely. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $265, with Szombathely cheaper for home cooking.
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 Szombathely: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Szombathely?
Mexico City and Szombathely differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,258 including rent). Szombathely 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 14% lower in Szombathely. 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 Szombathely?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $543 in Szombathely. 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 Szombathely?
A monthly transit pass in Szombathely runs roughly 33% 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 Szombathely?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $437 in Szombathely. 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 $1,258 in Szombathely versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Szombathely but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Szombathely the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Szombathely?
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 Szombathely safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Szombathely 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 Szombathely?
Expats usually find Szombathely gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% 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