๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,548 in Tuam.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $3,625 in Tuam.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $4,702 in Tuam.
๐Living in Mexico City costs roughly 42% less than in Tuam, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Tuam90% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$20.47โฌ17.46
-35.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$63.5โฌ54.1
-15.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$14.63โฌ12.48
-35.61%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$4.25โฌ3.62
-15.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$2.47โฌ2.10
-34.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$1.91โฌ1.63
-41.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$7.06โฌ6.02
-53.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$6.28โฌ5.36
-25.96%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$1.60โฌ1.36
2.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$2.05โฌ1.75
29.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$2.01โฌ1.71
-2.49%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$4.37โฌ3.73
-41.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$10.54โฌ8.99
-5.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$10.92โฌ9.32
-23.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
$11.95โฌ10.19
-1.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$3.00โฌ2.56
-4.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$2.08โฌ1.77
-16.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$2.91โฌ2.48
-31.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$3.61โฌ3.08
-43.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$2.22โฌ1.89
-7.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$1.52โฌ1.30
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$1.30โฌ1.11
11.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$1.94โฌ1.65
-43.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$18.42โฌ15.72
-76.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$13.81โฌ11.78
6.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$3.46โฌ2.95
-49.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$3.78โฌ3.23
-5.56%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$2.49โฌ2.12
-84.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
$98.2โฌ83.7
-80.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$5.32โฌ4.54
-73.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
$1.84โฌ1.57
-83.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$34.88โฌ29.75
-84.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$2.08โฌ1.77
-35.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$42.2Kโฌ36.0K
-55.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$38.3Kโฌ32.7K
-39.47%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$214โฌ182
-81.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$21.58โฌ18.41
25.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$50.7โฌ43.22
-41.86%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$51.4โฌ43.86
2.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$13.82โฌ11.79
-55.28%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$1,063โฌ907
-58.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$7,771โฌ6,628
37.67%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$89.6โฌ76.4
-36.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$39.27โฌ33.50
14.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$99.9โฌ85.2
3.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$105โฌ89.2
3.93%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$1,448โฌ1,236
-30.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$1,231โฌ1,050
-48.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$2,371โฌ2,022
-9.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$1,968โฌ1,678
-36.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tuam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.53
150.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Tuam: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,448 in Tuam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $63 in Tuam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $332 per month, with Mexico City 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 Tuam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Tuam?
Mexico City and Tuam differ by about 74% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $2,548 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Tuam?
You'd need roughly $2,199 in Mexico City and $3,822 in Tuam 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 Tuam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,448 in Tuam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Tuam?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 424% less than in Tuam. 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 Tuam?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $1,063 in Tuam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,548 in Tuam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tuam. 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 Tuam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Tuam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tuam 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 Tuam?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 74% less than in Tuam. 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