😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,119 in Szombathely.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,614 in Szombathely.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,110 in Szombathely.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 31% more expensive than Szombathely, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Szombathely is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$8.74Ft 2,667
50.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$43.50Ft 13.3K
23.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$8.59Ft 2,620
9.66%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$2.17Ft 663
63.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$1.10Ft 336
47.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.98Ft 299
13.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.57Ft 478
98.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.19Ft 668
111.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.05Ft 321
61.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.50Ft 457
81.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.81Ft 553
5.52%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.42Ft 739
4.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$9.05Ft 2,759
10.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.14Ft 1,872
31.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$14.30Ft 4,361
-18.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.96Ft 599
51.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.83Ft 558
-1.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$2.20Ft 670
-8.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$2.91Ft 888
-30.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.13Ft 345
87.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.22Ft 373
86.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.80Ft 549
-22.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.54Ft 163
109.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$7.16Ft 2,183
-40.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$5.02Ft 1,531
209.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.17Ft 357
50.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$1.57Ft 478
129.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.81Ft 247
-53.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$18.44Ft 5,625
4.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$2.66Ft 811
-48.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.16Ft 354
-75.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$22.24Ft 6,782
-75.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.68Ft 512
-22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$27.5KFt 8.4M
-32.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$25.4KFt 7.7M
-8.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$166Ft 50.5K
-75.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$27.27Ft 8,315
-1.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$19.55Ft 5,961
53.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$46.17Ft 14.1K
12.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$16.75Ft 5,108
60.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.34Ft 1,322
45.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$402Ft 122.6K
8.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$7,204Ft 2.2M
44.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$91.8Ft 28.0K
-38.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$45.08Ft 13.7K
-1.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$93.0Ft 28.4K
10.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$101Ft 30.8K
4.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$429Ft 131.0K
137.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$313Ft 95.4K
101.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$440Ft 134.1K
385.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$341Ft 103.9K
264.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$2,656Ft 810.0K
46.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$2,156Ft 657.6K
-4.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,262Ft 384.9K
-11.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.5
51.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $429 in Szombathely. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szombathely pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $43.00 in Szombathely for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $226 per month, with Szombathely 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 Szombathely: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Szombathely?
Mexico City and Szombathely differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,119 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, Szombathely earns 13% 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 Szombathely?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $429 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 Szombathely?
A monthly transit pass in Szombathely runs roughly 4% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $402 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 $1,119 in Szombathely versus $1,467 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 31% 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