😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $967 in Welkom.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,482 in Welkom.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,997 in Welkom.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 50% more expensive than Welkom, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Welkom is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$8.17R 132
58.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$19.57R 316
168.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$4.71R 76.2
100.21%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.59R 25.76
124.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.44R 7.07
265.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.54R 8.69
112.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.14R 18.35
176.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$1.36R 21.98
257.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.93R 15.05
82.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.93R 14.96
183.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.33R 21.43
42.86%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.64R 26.45
54.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$6.28R 102
60.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$4.36R 70.5
90.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$4.57R 73.9
153.17%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.44R 23.20
110.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.59R 25.78
7.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.59R 25.77
28.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.10R 17.82
87.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.14R 18.49
80.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.09R 17.68
99.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.85R 13.74
64.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$1.13R 18.20
-0.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.21R 35.81
94.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$2.41R 39.01
539.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.43R 23.11
16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.64R 26.44
125.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$1.67R 27.03
-77.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.42R 22.99
-2.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$1.36R 21.99
-79.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$3.00R 48.53
80.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.15R 18.59
11.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$19.0KR 306.5K
0.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$26.4KR 426.5K
-11.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$125R 2,019
-67.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$36.83R 595
-26.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$38.91R 629
-23.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$31.28R 506
67.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$7.67R 124
-19.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$200R 3,239
113.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$4,362R 70.5K
145.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$50.3R 813
13.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$32.20R 521
39.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$89.4R 1,446
16.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$86.9R 1,404
21.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$370R 5,977
169.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$331R 5,351
87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$698R 11.3K
204.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$678R 11.0K
84.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$908R 14.7K
329.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$704R 11.4K
197.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Welkom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Welkom: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $370 in Welkom. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $20.00 in Welkom for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $151 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 Welkom?
Mexico City and Welkom differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $967 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 $2,171 in Mexico City and $1,450 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 Welkom?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $370 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 $427 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 $53.0 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 $967 in Welkom versus $1,447 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 50% 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