🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,157 in Tervuren.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $3,131 in Tervuren.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $4,105 in Tervuren.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 23% less than in Tervuren, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City24% above, Tervuren60% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$21.92€19.24
-45.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$934
$80.6€70.8
-34.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$11.37€9.98
2.81%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.4
$4.51€3.96
-14.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$30.94
$3.15€2.77
-44.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.65
$3.05€2.68
-54.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.4
$5.46€4.79
-38.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$4.68€4.11
23.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$31.92
$1.26€1.11
43.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.5
$2.90€2.55
6.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.65
$2.29€2.01
-6.99%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.6
$4.01€3.52
-25.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$221
$11.82€10.37
6.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$181
$12.96€11.38
-20.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$281
$19.45€17.07
-18.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$59.8
$2.81€2.47
20.64%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.24
$2.29€2.01
-7.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.59
$2.27€1.99
-6.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.61
$2.38€2.09
3.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.03
$2.24€1.96
-8.93%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.59
$1.81€1.59
11.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.15
$1.41€1.24
12.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.50
$0.93€0.81
43.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.0
$13.42€11.78
-59.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$310
$7.47€6.56
134.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.61
$1.98€1.74
1.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.8
$1.94€1.71
144.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.94
$3.25€2.85
-89.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$373
$55.9€49.11
-62.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.28
$10.60€9.31
-80.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.75
$2.50€2.19
-75.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$26.46€23.22
-78.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.09
$2.00€1.75
-20.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$404.6K
$36.3K€31.9K
-37.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$466.2K
$35.0K€30.8K
-24.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,135
$221€194
-70.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$520
$18.68€16.40
57.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$651
$54.5€47.82
-32.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,038
$36.63€32.15
60.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$469
$20.77€18.23
27.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$14.80€12.99
-53.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,180
$587€515
-21.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$236.2K
$16.6K€14.6K
-19.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,333
$99.4€87.2
-24.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$958
$26.74€23.47
102.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,965
$112€98.7
-1.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,160
$147€129
-17.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.0K
$976€857
16.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.3K
$832€730
-16.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.2K
$1,459€1,281
67.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.0K
$1,193€1,047
9.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.1K
$4,178€3,667
-6.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.6K
$2,966€2,604
-30.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tervuren
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.2
253.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Tervuren: September 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $976 in Tervuren. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $81.0 in Tervuren. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $330, with Tervuren 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 Tervuren: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Tervuren?
Mexico City and Tervuren differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $2,157 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Tervuren?
You'd need roughly $2,502 in Mexico City and $3,235 in Tervuren to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Tervuren?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $976 in Tervuren. 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 Tervuren?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 165% less than in Tervuren. 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 Tervuren?
Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $587 in Tervuren. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,668 in Mexico City versus $2,157 in Tervuren, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tervuren. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tervuren?
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 Tervuren safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tervuren 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 Tervuren?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Tervuren. 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