😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,100 in Welkom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,780 in Welkom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,459 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 21% above, Welkom is 20% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$9.51R 154
25.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$21.79R 354
136.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$5.65R 91.8
101.95%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$1.79R 29.13
122.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$0.50R 8.14
232.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.64R 10.47
107.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.27R 20.58
173.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$1.56R 25.36
278.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.07R 17.34
75.70%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$1.06R 17.23
206.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.40R 22.81
54.29%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.89R 30.75
53.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$6.62R 108
94.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$4.81R 78.1
108.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$4.86R 79.0
226.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$1.56R 25.32
110.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.64R 26.59
22.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.78R 28.87
23.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.22R 19.82
93.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$1.19R 19.27
72.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.17R 19.07
62.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.95R 15.43
69.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$1.32R 21.44
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.51R 40.80
117.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$2.43R 39.45
626.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.56R 25.38
32.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.81R 29.41
158.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.94R 15.20
-63.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.32R 5.25
556.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.77R 12.50
-27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$14.74R 240
-60.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.49R 24.23
8.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$36.5KR 593.5K
-37.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$34.6KR 562.5K
-22.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$155R 2,517
-57.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$38.01R 617
-20.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$37.02R 601
0.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$43.36R 705
37.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.31R 119
-3.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$263R 4,265
76.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$7,894R 128.2K
68.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$53.5R 868
41.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$32.86R 534
70.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$93.7R 1,522
19.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$85.9R 1,396
40.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$279R 4,532
295.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$394R 6,400
82.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$908R 14.8K
178.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,053R 17.1K
22.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.34
-0.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Welkom: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $279 in Welkom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $22.00 in Welkom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $166 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 ($1,660 vs $1,100 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 $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,651 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: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $279 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 $465 in Mexico City versus $263 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 $22.00 versus $52.0 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 $1,100 in Welkom versus $1,660 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