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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,298 in Varazdin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,869 in Varazdin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,440 in Varazdin.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 14% more expensive than Varazdin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Varazdin is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$11.65 €9.98
11.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$66.1 €56.6
-19.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$10.80 €9.24
-10.00%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$2.33 €2.00
60.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$2.32 €1.98
-32.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$3.03 €2.60
-62.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$3.73 €3.20
-14.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$3.44 €2.94
35.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.19 €1.02
36.13%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$1.62 €1.39
67.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$2.96 €2.53
-36.49%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$3.41 €2.92
-26.39%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$4.70 €4.02
114.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$8.53 €7.30
-2.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$14.51 €12.42
-17.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$1.38 €1.18
107.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$1.47 €1.26
19.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$1.42 €1.22
46.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$2.59 €2.22
-23.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$1.20 €1.02
80.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$1.14 €0.97
91.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$1.13 €0.96
23.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$1.04 €0.89
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$5.69 €4.87
-26.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$8.43 €7.22
69.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$0.74 €0.63
137.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$2.10 €1.79
75.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$1.01 €0.86
-61.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$24.55 €21.01
-23.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$3.16 €2.70
-56.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$1.38 €1.18
-78.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$8.87 €7.59
-38.90%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$1.72 €1.47
-21.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$37.4K €32.0K
-49.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$26.4K €22.6K
-12.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$152 €130
-73.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$21.49 €18.39
27.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$33.38 €28.57
-8.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$52.9 €45.31
0.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$14.91 €12.77
76.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$7.86 €6.73
-20.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$176 €150
148.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$7,970 €6,822
31.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$76.5 €65.5
-25.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$35.17 €30.11
27.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$62.8 €53.8
63.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$74.2 €63.5
45.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$585 €501
70.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$440 €376
41.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$865 €740
147.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$491 €421
151.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$3,238 €2,772
19.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$2,513 €2,151
-7.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Varazdin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$1,401 €1,199
-23.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.12
175.24%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Varazdin: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $585 in Varazdin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Varazdin pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $66.0 in Varazdin. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $236, with Varazdin 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 Varazdin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Varazdin?
Mexico City and Varazdin differ by about 14% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,298 including rent). Varazdin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Varazdin earns 31% 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 Varazdin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $585 in Varazdin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Varazdin?
A monthly transit pass in Varazdin runs roughly 32% 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 Varazdin?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $176 in Varazdin. 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 $1,298 in Varazdin versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Varazdin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Varazdin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Varazdin?
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 Varazdin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Varazdin 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 Varazdin?
Expats usually find Varazdin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% 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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