😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $975 in Welkom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,468 in Welkom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,961 in Welkom.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 51% more expensive than in Welkom, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Welkom is 27% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$8.28R 136
58.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$19.92R 328
168.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$4.81R 79.2
93.97%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$1.60R 26.30
131.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.43R 7.08
272.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.53R 8.76
111.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$1.09R 17.99
188.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$1.42R 23.36
241.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$0.97R 15.95
70.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$0.98R 16.17
176.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.25R 20.65
52.80%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.66R 27.34
56.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$5.94R 97.8
65.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$4.28R 70.5
96.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$4.52R 74.4
163.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$1.42R 23.33
107.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.59R 26.21
9.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.58R 26.09
29.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.15R 18.97
79.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.09R 17.93
97.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.10R 18.14
105.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.82R 13.45
69.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$1.17R 19.25
-4.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$2.21R 36.35
90.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$2.36R 38.93
641.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.38R 22.80
23.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$1.65R 27.11
120.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$1.70R 27.93
-79.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$1.42R 23.38
-2.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$1.33R 21.86
-78.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$3.11R 51.2
69.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$1.21R 19.85
12.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$19.6KR 323.3K
-2.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$26.0KR 427.4K
-9.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$124R 2,036
-67.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$37.19R 612
-26.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$38.08R 627
-20.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$30.89R 509
69.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$7.43R 122
-16.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$200R 3,285
113.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$4,275R 70.4K
151.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$50.8R 837
14.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$32.55R 536
36.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$87.6R 1,442
18.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$88.6R 1,458
22.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$357R 5,878
183.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$334R 5,502
86.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$673R 11.1K
214.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$689R 11.3K
77.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
$769R 12.7K
392.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
$693R 11.4K
204.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.69
-2.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Welkom: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $357 in Welkom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $20.00 in Welkom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $150 per month, with Welkom 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 Welkom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Welkom?
Mexico City and Welkom differ by about 51% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $975 including rent). Welkom 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 Welkom?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $1,463 in Welkom 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 Welkom?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $357 in Welkom. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Welkom?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $200 in Welkom. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Welkom – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $975 in Welkom versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Welkom but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Welkom the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Welkom?
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 Welkom?
Expats usually find Welkom gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% 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