😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,142 in Szombathely.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,630 in Szombathely.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,117 in Szombathely.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 28% more expensive than in Szombathely, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Szombathely is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$8.60Ft 2,733
51.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$43.64Ft 13.9K
23.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$8.27Ft 2,627
17.05%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$2.10Ft 666
78.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.09Ft 346
48.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.92Ft 292
26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.60Ft 508
101.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$2.17Ft 690
118.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.10Ft 350
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$1.50Ft 478
83.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.83Ft 581
2.19%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$2.50Ft 796
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$9.10Ft 2,892
12.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$6.03Ft 1,916
36.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$14.44Ft 4,590
-18.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.96Ft 624
53.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.85Ft 588
-2.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.13Ft 676
-6.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$2.86Ft 910
-30.07%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.18Ft 375
76.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.30Ft 412
74.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$1.78Ft 567
-17.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.58Ft 183
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$7.12Ft 2,263
-38.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$4.83Ft 1,534
251.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.17Ft 372
47.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$1.55Ft 492
130.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.83Ft 264
-53.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$17.93Ft 5,698
4.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$2.66Ft 846
-50.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.15Ft 366
-75.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$22.21Ft 7,059
-76.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.68Ft 533
-20.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$27.5KFt 8.7M
-29.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$26.2KFt 8.3M
-8.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$165Ft 52.3K
-75.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$27.78Ft 8,827
-3.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$19.85Ft 6,308
53.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$45.59Ft 14.5K
15.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$17.06Ft 5,420
56.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$4.21Ft 1,338
54.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$397Ft 126.2K
7.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$7,179Ft 2.3M
46.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$93.2Ft 29.6K
-38.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$44.69Ft 14.2K
1.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$93.2Ft 29.6K
11.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$100Ft 31.9K
7.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$430Ft 136.5K
133.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$319Ft 101.4K
95.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$436Ft 138.5K
383.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$345Ft 109.5K
253.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$2,531Ft 804.2K
53.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$2,096Ft 666.0K
-3.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Szombathely
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$1,203Ft 382.2K
-13.73%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Szombathely: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $430 in Szombathely. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Szombathely pays 16% 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 $44.00 in Szombathely for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $227 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 in Szombathely?
Mexico City and Szombathely differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,142 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 16% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $430 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 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $397 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 $1,142 in Szombathely versus $1,456 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 28% 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