😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,127 in Oban versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,158 in Oban versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,188 in Oban versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Oban is roughly 29% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oban55% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.37£12.11
$12.11MX$205
35.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.9£64.3
$52.2MX$882
66.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.58£7.09
$10.90MX$184
-12.11%
Cappuccino
$4.79£3.54
$4.05MX$68.4
18.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30£1.70
$1.72MX$28.96
33.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99£1.47
$1.38MX$23.26
44.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04£4.46
$3.47MX$58.5
74.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00£3.70
$5.81MX$98.1
-13.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61£1.19
$1.85MX$31.30
-12.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82£1.35
$3.22MX$54.4
-43.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90£1.41
$2.09MX$35.21
-9.09%
Eggs
$4.45£3.29
$2.91MX$49.12
52.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.92£6.60
$12.49MX$211
-28.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.48£9.24
$10.11MX$171
23.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.67£12.33
$15.89MX$268
4.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92£2.16
$3.31MX$56.0
-11.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.41£1.04
$2.13MX$35.91
-33.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87£2.12
$2.19MX$36.99
31.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94£2.91
$2.45MX$41.33
60.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.84£1.36
$2.19MX$36.96
-15.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.53£1.13
$1.90MX$32.16
-19.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30£0.96
$1.62MX$27.28
-19.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72£1.27
$1.35MX$22.79
27.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$21.46£15.88
$5.43MX$91.6
295.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.38£8.42
$17.59MX$297
-35.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71£2.00
$2.07MX$34.92
30.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09£2.29
$4.75MX$80.1
-34.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.56£2.63
$0.34MX$5.74
947.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.8£61.2
$21.58MX$364
283.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.95£2.92
$2.04MX$34.45
93.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.45£1.82
$0.58MX$9.76
322.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.58£18.18
$5.97MX$101
311.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.07£1.53
$1.62MX$27.28
27.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K£29.3K
$22.8KMX$385.2K
73.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0K£31.0K
$26.7KMX$450.2K
57.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$344£255
$65.2MX$1,102
427.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.13£21.55
$29.87MX$504
-2.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.95£32.51
$36.55MX$617
20.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.93£34.72
$61.0MX$1,030
-23.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.94£5.14
$26.70MX$451
-74.01%
Cinema Ticket
$11.72£8.67
$6.85MX$116
71.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,840£1,361
$453MX$7,656
305.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.7K£17.5K
$13.4KMX$225.8K
77.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$97.2£71.9
$75.0MX$1,266
29.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.3£37.23
$55.3MX$934
-8.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107£79.5
$114MX$1,918
-5.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117£86.3
$123MX$2,071
-4.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,252£926
$1,134MX$19.1K
10.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$793£586
$712MX$12.0K
11.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,087£1,544
$2,571MX$43.4K
-18.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,244£920
$1,311MX$22.1K
-5.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,217£3,860
$3,993MX$67.4K
30.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,972£2,938
$2,095MX$35.4K
89.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oban
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,179£2,352
$1,047MX$17.7K
203.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.11
11.3
-54.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oban: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,252 in Oban and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oban pays 204% 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: $87.0 in Oban vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $330 vs $345, with Oban cheaper for home cooking.
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
Oban vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oban and in Mexico City?
Oban and Mexico City differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($2,127 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Oban or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 204% higher in Oban, 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 Oban and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,252 in Oban versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oban and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 284% less than in Oban. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oban and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,840 in Oban versus $453 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,127 in Oban, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Oban. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oban 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 Oban or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oban 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: Oban or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Oban. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.