🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $931 in Mostar versus $1,668 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,428 in Mostar versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,925 in Mostar versus $3,557 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Mostar costs roughly 44% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mostar is 31% below, Mexico City is 24% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.00BAM 12.00
$12.03MX$213
-41.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.12BAM 49.96
$52.8MX$934
-44.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.78BAM 9.91
$11.69MX$207
-50.56%
Cappuccino
$1.71BAM 2.93
$3.87MX$68.4
-55.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97BAM 3.37
$1.75MX$30.94
12.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28BAM 2.19
$1.39MX$24.65
-7.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.38BAM 4.09
$3.36MX$59.4
-29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23BAM 3.83
$5.77MX$102
-61.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20BAM 2.06
$1.81MX$31.92
-33.70%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99BAM 1.71
$3.08MX$54.5
-67.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05BAM 3.51
$2.13MX$37.65
-3.76%
Eggs
$2.69BAM 4.62
$2.98MX$52.6
-9.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74BAM 13.29
$12.53MX$221
-38.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.38BAM 12.67
$10.24MX$181
-27.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.77BAM 18.48
$15.92MX$281
-32.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.15BAM 1.98
$3.39MX$59.8
-66.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71BAM 2.93
$2.11MX$37.24
-18.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40BAM 2.40
$2.13MX$37.59
-34.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23BAM 2.10
$2.47MX$43.61
-50.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86BAM 1.48
$2.04MX$36.03
-57.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69BAM 1.18
$2.01MX$35.59
-65.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.78BAM 1.33
$1.59MX$28.15
-50.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69BAM 1.18
$1.33MX$23.50
-48.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09BAM 7.01
$5.49MX$97.0
-25.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.22BAM 7.23
$17.52MX$310
-75.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.77BAM 1.32
$2.01MX$35.61
-61.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90BAM 1.54
$4.74MX$83.8
-81.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.20BAM 2.06
$0.34MX$5.94
252.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$33.66BAM 57.8
$21.07MX$373
59.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80BAM 3.09
$2.05MX$36.28
-12.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62BAM 1.06
$0.61MX$10.75
1.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.62BAM 18.22
$5.70MX$101
86.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51BAM 2.59
$1.59MX$28.09
-5.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KBAM 53.3K
$22.9KMX$404.6K
35.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KBAM 37.5K
$26.4KMX$466.2K
-17.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$121BAM 208
$64.2MX$1,135
88.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.92BAM 30.75
$29.42MX$520
-39.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.90BAM 46.15
$36.83MX$651
-26.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.28BAM 62.3
$58.7MX$1,038
-38.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.76BAM 20.18
$26.54MX$469
-55.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.67BAM 9.72
$6.95MX$123
-18.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$153BAM 262
$463MX$8,180
-67.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5KBAM 23.1K
$13.4KMX$236.2K
0.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.6BAM 102
$75.4MX$1,333
-21.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.19BAM 58.7
$54.2MX$958
-36.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.1BAM 153
$111MX$1,965
-19.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1BAM 144
$122MX$2,160
-31.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435BAM 747
$1,133MX$20.0K
-61.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262BAM 450
$698MX$12.3K
-62.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$668BAM 1,146
$2,442MX$43.2K
-72.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$465BAM 798
$1,303MX$23.0K
-64.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,313BAM 3,969
$3,910MX$69.1K
-40.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,600BAM 2,745
$2,069MX$36.6K
-22.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mostar
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$871BAM 1,494
$1,052MX$18.6K
-17.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.3
11.3
-61.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mostar: September 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Mostar and $1,133 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 21% 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: $29.00 in Mostar vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $343 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 79% in total monthly costs ($931 vs $1,668 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 21% 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: $435 in Mostar versus $1,133 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 60% 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 $153 in Mostar versus $463 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 $931 in Mostar versus $1,668 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 79% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.