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: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $362 in Zaqatala.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $592 in Zaqatala.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $822 in Zaqatala.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 307% more expensive than in Zaqatala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Zaqatala is 73% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$5.19 ₼8.82

153.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$20.79 ₼35.33

157.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$7.19 ₼12.23

29.76%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$2.39 ₼4.06

54.81%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.60 ₼1.02

166.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$0.52 ₼0.88

115.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$1.74 ₼2.96

80.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$2.89 ₼4.92

67.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$0.99 ₼1.68

66.67%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$0.43 ₼0.72

530.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$2.19 ₼3.73

-12.79%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$1.45 ₼2.46

78.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$3.57 ₼6.07

174.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$2.37 ₼4.03

255.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$8.41 ₼14.29

41.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$0.74 ₼1.25

298.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.21 ₼2.05

43.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$0.57 ₼0.96

257.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$0.70 ₼1.19

194.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$0.28 ₼0.47

667.86%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$0.41 ₼0.69

451.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$0.91 ₼1.54

52.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.56 ₼0.95

100.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$1.80 ₼3.06

134.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

$8.98 ₼15.27

94.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$1.16 ₼1.96

47.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$2.02 ₼3.43

79.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$0.20 ₼0.34

75.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$0.61 ₼1.03

122.95%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

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

$40.53 MX$701

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

$27.38 MX$474

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$34.08 ₼57.9

53.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

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

$425 MX$7,355

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$118 ₼200

761.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$82.1 ₼140

658.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$236 ₼401

798.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$146 ₼248

737.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Zaqatala: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $118 in Zaqatala. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Zaqatala for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 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 307% in total monthly costs ($1,472 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 $2,208 in Mexico City and $543 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $118 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 $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $362 in Zaqatala – a 307% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $362 in Zaqatala versus $1,472 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 307% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.