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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $362 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $605 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $847 in Zaqatala.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 300% more expensive than Zaqatala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Zaqatala is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.96 MX$223

$5.41 ₼9.19

139.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.3 MX$900

$20.61 ₼35.02

153.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.69 MX$167

$6.87 ₼11.68

41.05%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$64.6

$2.40 ₼4.08

56.25%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MX$26.91

$0.62 ₼1.05

151.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$19.93

$0.54 ₼0.92

114.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.24 MX$55.8

$1.71 ₼2.90

89.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.90 MX$84.3

$2.97 ₼5.05

64.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.29

$1.02 ₼1.74

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.67 MX$45.90

$0.40 ₼0.68

567.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 MX$32.49

$2.22 ₼3.78

-14.86%

Eggs

$2.52 MX$43.37

$1.39 ₼2.36

81.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.02 MX$172

$3.58 ₼6.08

179.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.53 MX$147

$2.32 ₼3.94

267.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$205

$8.39 ₼14.26

42.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.1

$0.74 ₼1.26

301.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.79 MX$30.88

$1.15 ₼1.95

55.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.40

$0.61 ₼1.03

227.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.96 MX$33.74

$0.69 ₼1.17

184.06%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.21

$0.28 ₼0.47

671.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.04

$0.40 ₼0.69

467.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.14

$0.91 ₼1.54

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.18

$0.58 ₼0.98

91.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$72.2

$1.75 ₼2.97

140.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.54 MX$285

$8.98 ₼15.25

84.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.94

$1.15 ₼1.95

46.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 MX$61.8

$2.09 ₼3.55

71.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.65

$0.21 ₼0.35

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.19 MX$330

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.77

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.19

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.39 MX$92.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 MX$22.13

$0.61 ₼1.04

111.48%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$325.1K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K MX$409.5K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.86 MX$686

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.83 MX$479

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.77 MX$512

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$894

$34.02 ₼57.8

52.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.22 MX$451

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$108

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$433 MX$7,443

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$181.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.0 MX$981

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.33 MX$780

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 MX$1,753

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,867

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$994 MX$17.1K

$117 ₼198

751.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 MX$10.6K

$82.9 ₼141

644.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,086 MX$35.9K

$235 ₼399

789.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 MX$21.6K

$147 ₼251

751.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,936 MX$67.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,089 MX$35.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,131 MX$19.5K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $117 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $133 per month, with Zaqatala 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 Zaqatala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Zaqatala differ by about 300% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $362 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $544 in Zaqatala 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $117 in Zaqatala. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Mexico City versus $362 in Zaqatala – a 300% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $362 in Zaqatala versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zaqatala but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zaqatala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Zaqatala are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 300% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.