Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Terni Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Terni

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,323 in Terni.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,999 in Terni.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,676 in Terni.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 11% more expensive than Terni, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Terni is 1% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$17.46 €15.02
-24.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$48.75 €41.94
10.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$9.92 €8.54
-5.04%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$1.87 €1.61
89.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$2.72 €2.34
-40.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$1.31 €1.13
-15.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$5.36 €4.61
-41.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$5.24 €4.51
-11.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$1.25 €1.07
36.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$2.13 €1.83
27.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$2.37 €2.04
-19.41%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$3.32 €2.86
-23.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$13.19 €11.35
-23.96%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$9.41 €8.09
-14.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$13.78 €11.85
-15.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$2.24 €1.93
32.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$1.88 €1.62
-3.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$1.14 €0.98
76.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$2.28 €1.96
-10.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$1.62 €1.40
30.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$1.72 €1.48
31.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$0.84 €0.72
66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$0.41 €0.36
175.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$6.40 €5.51
-33.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$8.18 €7.04
90.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$1.37 €1.18
28.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$1.65 €1.42
118.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$1.67 €1.43
-77.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$34.26 €29.47
-44.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$5.00 €4.30
-72.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$1.37 €1.17
-79.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$25.43 €21.88
-78.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$2.02 €1.74
-35.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$34.4K €29.6K
-45.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$32.9K €28.3K
-29.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$176 €152
-76.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$14.16 €12.18
89.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$31.06 €26.72
-3.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$53.1 €45.66
-2.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$17.00 €14.63
57.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$10.26 €8.83
-38.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$353 €304
23.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$5,880 €5,058
77.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$66.3 €57.1
-14.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$35.02 €30.13
26.73%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$89.7 €77.1
14.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$88.9 €76.5
18.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$352 €303
190.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$353 €304
78.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$744 €640
187.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$564 €485
120.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$1,383 €1,189
182.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$806 €693
156.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$1,554 €1,336
-28.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
3.69
207.32%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Terni: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $352 in Terni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Terni pays 39% 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 $49.00 in Terni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $266 per month, with Terni 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 Terni: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Terni?
Mexico City and Terni differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,323 including rent). Terni is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Terni earns 39% 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 Terni?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $352 in Terni. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Terni?
A monthly transit pass in Terni runs roughly 79% 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 Terni?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $353 in Terni. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,323 in Terni versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Terni but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Terni the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Terni?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Terni?
Expats usually find Terni gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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