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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $113 in Zimba.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $176 in Zimba.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $239 in Zimba.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1195% more expensive than Zimba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Zimba is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$2.48 ZMW 44.24

279.84%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$1.25 ZMW 22.33

184.00%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.63 ZMW 11.33

157.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

$0.30 ZMW 5.40

270.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$0.60 ZMW 10.70

420.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$0.80 ZMW 14.27

478.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

$0.85 ZMW 15.21

220.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$1.27 ZMW 22.73

50.39%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$1.11 ZMW 19.85

128.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$2.88 ZMW 51.4

303.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

$1.48 ZMW 26.34

100.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$1.26 ZMW 22.50

43.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

$2.42 ZMW 43.16

-16.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

$0.60 ZMW 10.68

238.33%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

$0.61 ZMW 10.89

272.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

$0.74 ZMW 13.18

89.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

$0.39 ZMW 6.97

189.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

$6.58 ZMW 117

136.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$0.61 ZMW 10.82

188.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

$0.82 ZMW 14.64

339.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

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

$40.86 MX$707

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

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Zimba: May 30, 2026

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 Zimba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Zimba differ by about 1195% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $113 including rent). Zimba is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $170 in Zimba 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 256% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $113 in Zimba – a 1195% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $113 in Zimba versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zimba but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zimba 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.

Expats usually find Zimba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1195% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.