😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $674 in Zlatoust.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $952 in Zlatoust.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,230 in Zlatoust.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 149% more expensive than in Zlatoust, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Zlatoust is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$205
$5.26₽452
130.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$911
$29.35₽2,522
83.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$187
$4.84₽415
129.13%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.3
$3.14₽270
30.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.44
$1.72₽147
-2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.47
$1.17₽100
18.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.3
$2.25₽193
48.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.4
$4.20₽361
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.30
$1.09₽93.3
69.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.6
$0.71₽60.6
346.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.01
$1.19₽102
73.95%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.51
$1.53₽131
91.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$213
$10.67₽917
17.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$4.97₽427
103.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$272
$9.70₽834
65.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.3
$1.71₽147
98.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.14
$1.77₽152
17.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.85
$1.70₽146
24.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.82
$3.00₽258
-19.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.00
$0.72₽61.5
195.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$33.90
$0.72₽61.8
179.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.13
$1.53₽132
1.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.08
$0.37₽31.39
267.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.5
$2.68₽230
115.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$300
$4.85₽417
265.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.00
$0.72₽61.7
187.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.0
$1.72₽148
168.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.19
$0.42₽36.26
-11.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.73
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.75
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.25
$0.78₽66.8
98.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$386.8K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$460.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,140
$108₽9,279
-37.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$518
$3.48₽299
779.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$630
$7.15₽614
420.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,039
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$459
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$120
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,714
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$231.5K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,255
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$964
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,951
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,055
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.4K
$285₽24.5K
302.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$233₽20.0K
204.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.6K
$353₽30.3K
630.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$21.9K
$287₽24.6K
351.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Zlatoust
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.3K
$584₽50.2K
85.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Zlatoust: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $285 in Zlatoust. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 85% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $29.00 in Zlatoust for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $187 per month, with Zlatoust 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 Zlatoust: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Zlatoust?
Mexico City and Zlatoust differ by about 149% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $674 including rent). Zlatoust is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Zlatoust?
Average pay runs 85% 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 apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Zlatoust?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $285 in Zlatoust. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Zlatoust – a meal for two runs $29.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Zlatoust?
All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $674 in Zlatoust – a 149% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $674 in Zlatoust versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zlatoust but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zlatoust the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Zlatoust?
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 Zlatoust?
Expats usually find Zlatoust gentler on the wallet – expenses run 149% 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