Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Montana and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Montana: $829 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $9,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Montana, Bulgaria
Mexico City, Mexico
Montana
🇧🇬 Bulgaria
$829
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Montana and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Montana and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $829 in Montana versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Montana $829
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,329 in Montana versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Montana $1,329
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,830 in Montana versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Montana $1,830
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Montana costs roughly 48% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Montana is 39% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92 BGN 15.61
$10.62 MX$199
-16.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.11 BGN 61.5
$48.35 MX$908
-27.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.78 BGN 17.11
$10.35 MX$194
-5.51%
Cappuccino
$1.44 BGN 2.52
$3.69 MX$69.3
-60.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 BGN 2.43
$1.67 MX$31.29
-16.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 BGN 1.95
$1.27 MX$23.76
-11.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.33 BGN 2.33
$3.19 MX$59.9
-58.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00 BGN 1.75
$5.31 MX$99.6
-81.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 BGN 2.93
$1.72 MX$32.38
-2.33%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 BGN 1.85
$3.04 MX$57.1
-65.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.12 BGN 3.71
$1.94 MX$36.44
9.28%
Eggs
$2.71 BGN 4.74
$2.89 MX$54.2
-6.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.60 BGN 16.79
$10.97 MX$206
-12.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 BGN 5.67
$9.25 MX$174
-64.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.34 BGN 21.60
$15.13 MX$284
-18.44%
Apples (1kg)
$1.21 BGN 2.13
$3.05 MX$57.2
-60.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 BGN 3.22
$1.94 MX$36.45
-5.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 BGN 2.96
$2.03 MX$38.02
-16.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.54 BGN 4.44
$2.31 MX$43.46
9.96%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 BGN 1.25
$2.04 MX$38.21
-65.20%
Onion (1kg)
$0.88 BGN 1.54
$1.80 MX$33.79
-51.11%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 BGN 1.51
$1.48 MX$27.77
-41.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 BGN 0.91
$1.27 MX$23.80
-59.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57 BGN 6.25
$5.30 MX$99.6
-32.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.04 BGN 10.57
$16.10 MX$302
-62.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 BGN 1.57
$1.98 MX$37.23
-54.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 BGN 2.02
$4.25 MX$79.8
-72.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 BGN 1.47
$0.31 MX$5.73
170.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.73 BGN 45.02
$19.73 MX$371
30.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.61 BGN 1.07
$1.84 MX$34.50
-66.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.44 BGN 0.78
$0.53 MX$10.02
-16.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.40 BGN 18.20
$5.30 MX$99.4
96.23%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 BGN 2.75
$1.51 MX$28.36
3.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K BGN 33.9K
$21.8K MX$408.4K
-10.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K BGN 42.4K
$24.0K MX$450.3K
1.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$100 BGN 175
$63.0 MX$1,182
58.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.53 BGN 32.42
$27.39 MX$514
-32.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.68 BGN 15.19
$35.67 MX$670
-75.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.54 BGN 55.2
$58.9 MX$1,107
-46.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.76 BGN 29.33
$23.64 MX$444
-29.10%
Cinema Ticket
$5.49 BGN 9.60
$6.40 MX$120
-14.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$604 BGN 1,057
$432 MX$8,103
39.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,536 BGN 9,688
$11.4K MX$214.5K
-51.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0 BGN 117
$68.2 MX$1,281
-1.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.29 BGN 72.3
$53.1 MX$997
-22.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 BGN 169
$108 MX$2,023
-10.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 BGN 179
$117 MX$2,202
-12.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$210 BGN 368
$1,113 MX$20.9K
-81.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 BGN 270
$710 MX$13.3K
-78.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$405 BGN 708
$2,588 MX$48.6K
-84.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$294 BGN 515
$1,406 MX$26.4K
-79.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,341 BGN 2,347
$3,631 MX$68.2K
-63.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,115 BGN 1,951
$2,135 MX$40.1K
-47.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Montana
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$983 BGN 1,719
$946 MX$17.8K
3.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.1
11.35
-72.69%

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

Last update for Montana: October 24, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Montana
$198
Mexico City
$320 61.6% $122
Accommodation & Living
Montana
$155
Mexico City
$710 360% $556
Clothing & Footwear
Montana
$138
Mexico City
$156 12.8% $18
Eating Out
Montana
$137
Mexico City
$199 45.4% $62
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Montana
$127
Mexico City
$126 0.9% $1.2
Sport & Entertainment
Montana
$43
Mexico City
$72 68.7% $29
Getting Around
Montana
$32
Mexico City
$25 20.2% $6.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $210 in Montana and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Montana pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Montana vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $320 per month, with Montana cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇬 Montana
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
06:56 6:56 AM
22:56 10:56 PM
8 h behind Montana
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
44,502
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Bulgarian Lev BGN лв.
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to BGN – Bulgarian Lev Converter

Bulgarian Lev exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 1.75 BGN (1 BGN = 0.571 USD). 1 EUR = 1.95 BGN (1 BGN = 0.512 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.77 MXN (100 MXN = 5.33 USD). 1 EUR = 20.96 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Montana Mexico City 10,890 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Montana
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Montana vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Montana and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $829 in Montana and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Montana is about 48% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Montana or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 4% higher in Montana, 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 Montana and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $210 in Montana versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Montana and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 23% less than in Montana. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Montana and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $604 in Montana versus $432 in Mexico City. 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 $829 in Montana versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Montana but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Montana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Montana and Mexico City?
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.

Montana vs other spots: cost of living compared

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