😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,284 in Tukums.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,860 in Tukums.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,435 in Tukums.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 16% more expensive than Tukums, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tukums is 4% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.81€4.97
123.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$23.48€20.09
126.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$9.42€8.07
3.18%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.46€2.96
8.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.78€1.52
-11.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$1.35€1.16
-16.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$5.86€5.02
-45.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$5.94€5.08
-21.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.13€0.97
43.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.68€1.44
61.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.92€2.50
-35.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.10€1.80
19.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.99€7.70
12.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.05€6.03
17.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$11.73€10.04
1.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.66€1.42
72.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.85€1.58
-5.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.54€2.17
-18.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$3.56€3.04
-44.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.66€0.56
227.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.07€0.91
103.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.73€1.48
-19.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.60€0.52
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$5.71€4.89
-26.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$8.05€6.89
77.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.22€1.05
44.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.28€1.95
61.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.94€0.80
-58.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$35.77€30.62
-47.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$2.94€2.51
-52.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.86€0.73
-65.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$14.04€12.02
-61.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.85€1.58
-27.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$30.8K€26.4K
-38.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$31.8K€27.3K
-27.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$296€253
-86.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$17.12€14.65
60.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$20.64€17.67
47.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$51.7€44.27
3.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$11.73€10.04
-46.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$538€460
-18.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$15.7K€13.4K
-33.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$90.4€77.4
-37.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$46.64€39.93
-3.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$81.3€69.6
26.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$137€117
-21.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$231€197
333.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$254€218
143.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$742€635
188.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$458€392
169.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,491€1,276
159.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,001€856
133.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tukums
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$577€494
84.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.63
144.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tukums: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $231 in Tukums. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 85% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $23.00 in Tukums for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $238 per month, with Tukums 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 Tukums: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Tukums?
Mexico City and Tukums differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,284 including rent). Tukums is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Tukums?
Mexico City pays 85% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Tukums?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $231 in Tukums. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Tukums?
A monthly transit pass in Tukums runs roughly 92% 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 Tukums?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $538 in Tukums. 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 $1,284 in Tukums versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tukums but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tukums the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tukums?
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 Tukums safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tukums 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 Tukums?
Expats usually find Tukums gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% 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