😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,348 in Terni.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $2,048 in Terni.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,748 in Terni.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 8% more expensive than in Terni, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Terni1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$17.45€15.28
-25.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$49.82€43.63
7.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$9.56€8.37
1.26%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.86€1.63
101.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$2.69€2.35
-39.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$1.35€1.18
-14.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$5.07€4.44
-36.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$5.29€4.64
-10.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.25€1.10
32.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$2.20€1.93
25.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$2.34€2.05
-20.09%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$3.42€2.99
-26.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$13.65€11.96
-25.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$9.16€8.02
-9.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$13.84€12.12
-14.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.15€1.88
40.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.88€1.64
-3.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.19€1.05
68.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$2.28€2.00
-12.28%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.58€1.38
31.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.71€1.50
32.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.79€0.69
84.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.41€0.36
163.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$6.40€5.60
-32.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$7.38€6.46
130.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.35€1.18
28.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.64€1.44
118.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.64€1.44
-76.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$34.99€30.64
-46.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$4.97€4.35
-73.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.30€1.14
-78.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$25.75€22.56
-79.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$2.07€1.82
-35.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$33.6K€29.4K
-42.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$34.1K€29.8K
-30.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$176€154
-76.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$13.63€11.93
97.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$31.05€27.19
-1.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$51.8€45.35
1.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$16.49€14.44
61.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$10.62€9.30
-38.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$341€298
25.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$5,886€5,155
78.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$64.7€56.7
-11.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$35.76€31.32
27.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$91.1€79.8
14.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$88.7€77.7
21.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$343€301
192.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$341€299
82.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$757€663
178.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$559€489
118.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$1,381€1,209
181.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$788€690
158.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Terni
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$1,498€1,312
-30.72%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Terni: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $343 in Terni. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Terni pays 44% 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 $50.0 in Terni for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $265 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 in Terni?
Mexico City and Terni differ by about 8% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,348 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, salaries run 44% lower in Terni. 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 Terni?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $343 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 in Terni?
A monthly transit pass in Terni runs roughly 87% 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $341 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 $1,348 in Terni versus $1,456 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 8% 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