🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Mostar versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,465 in Mostar versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,927 in Mostar versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Mostar costs roughly 31% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mostar is 25% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.95BAM 11.88
$13.07MX$229
-46.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.81BAM 61.3
$53.8MX$943
-33.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.54BAM 9.48
$9.68MX$170
-42.77%
Cappuccino
$1.64BAM 2.80
$3.74MX$65.6
-56.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80BAM 3.09
$1.62MX$28.34
11.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20BAM 2.05
$1.16MX$20.37
3.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08BAM 3.56
$3.23MX$56.6
-35.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10BAM 3.58
$4.74MX$83.1
-55.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42BAM 2.43
$1.65MX$28.89
-13.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25BAM 2.14
$2.75MX$48.30
-54.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59BAM 2.71
$1.87MX$32.87
-14.97%
Eggs
$2.81BAM 4.81
$2.50MX$43.86
12.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21BAM 15.74
$10.20MX$179
-9.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.23BAM 12.37
$8.25MX$145
-12.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88BAM 20.32
$11.82MX$207
0.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.23BAM 2.10
$3.01MX$52.8
-59.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65BAM 2.83
$1.81MX$31.77
-8.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85BAM 3.17
$2.00MX$35.07
-7.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73BAM 2.95
$2.00MX$35.00
-13.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.85BAM 1.46
$2.08MX$36.56
-59.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75BAM 1.28
$2.27MX$39.85
-66.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92BAM 1.57
$1.46MX$25.55
-36.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71BAM 1.22
$1.08MX$18.88
-34.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57BAM 6.10
$4.35MX$76.3
-17.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.04BAM 6.91
$16.99MX$298
-76.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71BAM 1.22
$1.73MX$30.40
-58.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10BAM 1.88
$3.58MX$62.7
-69.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.16BAM 1.98
$0.39MX$6.79
197.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.13BAM 58.4
$18.69MX$328
82.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.45BAM 2.47
$1.33MX$23.25
9.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89BAM 1.53
$0.28MX$4.91
217.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.89BAM 15.20
$5.25MX$92.1
69.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43BAM 2.45
$1.34MX$23.44
6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.8KBAM 40.8K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
22.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KBAM 45.2K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
10.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121BAM 208
$40.69MX$714
198.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$19.20BAM 32.84
$26.87MX$471
-28.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.63BAM 40.41
$30.51MX$535
-22.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.96BAM 59.8
$52.8MX$926
-33.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.57BAM 19.78
$26.65MX$467
-56.59%
Cinema Ticket
$4.83BAM 8.26
$6.51MX$114
-25.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155BAM 265
$428MX$7,508
-63.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,298BAM 5,641
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-68.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.0BAM 127
$57.3MX$1,004
29.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.05BAM 59.9
$45.50MX$798
-22.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.0BAM 152
$104MX$1,825
-14.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121BAM 207
$108MX$1,891
12.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260BAM 444
$1,003MX$17.6K
-74.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$279BAM 477
$623MX$10.9K
-55.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440BAM 752
$2,109MX$37.0K
-79.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$313BAM 536
$1,218MX$21.4K
-74.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,321BAM 3,970
$3,885MX$68.1K
-40.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,624BAM 2,778
$2,033MX$35.7K
-20.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$884BAM 1,512
$1,038MX$18.2K
-14.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.14
11.34
-63.49%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mostar: July 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Mostar and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 17% 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: $36.00 in Mostar vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $292 per month, with Mostar 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
Mostar vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mostar and in Mexico City?
Mostar and Mexico City differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,003 vs $1,456 including rent). Mostar is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mostar and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $260 in Mostar versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mostar and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mostar runs roughly 83% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mostar and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $155 in Mostar versus $428 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,003 in Mostar versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mostar but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mostar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mostar 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.
Is Mostar or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mostar and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mostar or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mostar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.