😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $378 in Zagazig.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $632 in Zagazig.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $885 in Zagazig.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 335% more expensive than in Zagazig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 20% above, Zagazig is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$205
$3.92E£199
208.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$885
$15.93E£810
227.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$185
$5.57E£283
95.69%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.7
$0.92E£46.97
340.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.06
$0.29E£14.57
493.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.34
$0.17E£8.61
711.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.7
$1.50E£76.4
131.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.5
$2.41E£123
141.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.40
$0.72E£36.57
156.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.6
$0.29E£14.65
1010.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.33
$0.56E£28.58
273.21%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.28
$1.20E£60.9
142.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$212
$3.83E£195
226.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$4.25E£216
137.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$269
$8.13E£414
95.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.2
$1.34E£68.1
147.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.03
$0.77E£39.13
176.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.11
$0.41E£20.80
434.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.46
$0.23E£11.74
965.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.08
$0.42E£21.44
421.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.27
$0.40E£20.57
375.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.37
$0.10E£4.85
1520.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.87
$0.22E£11.18
513.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.9
$2.12E£108
156.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$298
$8.11E£412
116.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.03
$1.59E£81.1
30.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.4
$2.15E£110
120.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.76
$0.12E£5.96
183.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$366
$6.01E£306
259.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.57
$0.22E£11.29
827.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.22E£10.99
163.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$1.54E£78.4
287.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.37
$0.39E£20.07
315.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.4K
$34.5KE£1.8M
-33.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$451.7K
$29.4KE£1.5M
-9.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,105
$14.88E£757
338.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$506
$5.40E£275
453.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$619
$10.97E£558
233.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,033
$10.01E£509
509.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$452
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$1.96E£99.7
249.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,681
$110E£5,619
310.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$226.5K
$3,392E£172.5K
294.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,270
$19.96E£1,015
275.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$937
$47.12E£2,397
17.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,925
$115E£5,837
-0.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,078
$17.36E£883
606.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.1K
$38.60E£1,963
1745.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.2K
$98.1E£4,991
1236.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.5K
$294E£15.0K
611.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Zagazig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
$163E£8,310
540.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
10
13.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Zagazig: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Mexico City pays 541% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $16.00 in Zagazig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $122 per month, with Zagazig 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 Zagazig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Zagazig?
Mexico City and Zagazig differ by about 335% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $378 including rent). Zagazig is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Zagazig?
Average pay runs 541% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Zagazig?
A monthly transit pass in Zagazig runs roughly 259% 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 Zagazig?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $110 in Zagazig. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $378 in Zagazig versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zagazig but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zagazig the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Zagazig?
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 Zagazig?
Expats usually find Zagazig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 335% 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