😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,098 in Oberhausen versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,991 in Oberhausen versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,884 in Oberhausen versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Oberhausen is roughly 41% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oberhausen57% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.29€15.66
$12.98MX$227
40.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9€59.0
$53.1MX$929
29.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.92€11.92
$9.72MX$170
43.21%
Cappuccino
$4.13€3.54
$3.75MX$65.6
10.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.33€2.85
$1.57MX$27.46
112.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08€2.63
$1.13MX$19.76
172.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.75€4.06
$3.18MX$55.7
49.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66€3.99
$4.66MX$81.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.35€1.15
$1.62MX$28.37
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22€1.90
$2.71MX$47.36
-18.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.59€3.07
$1.88MX$32.89
90.96%
Eggs
$3.65€3.12
$2.51MX$43.90
45.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.70€12.58
$10.08MX$176
45.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.10€12.07
$8.29MX$145
70.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.47€18.38
$11.94MX$209
79.82%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17€2.72
$2.86MX$50.1
10.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.93€1.65
$1.75MX$30.62
10.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31€1.98
$2.08MX$36.48
11.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.77€4.09
$1.97MX$34.46
142.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.60€1.37
$2.16MX$37.79
-25.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63€1.39
$2.18MX$38.16
-25.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.92€1.64
$1.39MX$24.34
38.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.14€0.98
$1.12MX$19.69
1.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.28€7.95
$4.20MX$73.5
120.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.99€5.13
$14.25MX$249
-57.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.95
$1.76MX$30.85
-36.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$3.68MX$64.5
-54.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.43€2.93
$0.39MX$6.74
779.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$51.7€44.28
$18.66MX$327
177.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.19€4.45
$1.39MX$24.26
273.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.40€2.06
$0.30MX$5.32
700.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$35.38€30.29
$5.42MX$94.9
552.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.00€1.71
$1.35MX$23.63
48.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K€27.4K
$18.9KMX$330.5K
69.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K€30.0K
$23.2KMX$405.2K
51.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$394€337
$40.82MX$714
864.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.00€21.40
$27.50MX$481
-9.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.1€42.92
$30.38MX$532
65.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.79€34.06
$53.4MX$935
-25.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.99€19.68
$26.30MX$460
-12.59%
Cinema Ticket
$17.33€14.84
$6.27MX$110
176.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$464€397
$436MX$7,632
6.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,905€8,479
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-5.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$96.7€82.8
$56.8MX$993
70.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.60€39.04
$44.79MX$784
1.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105€89.7
$103MX$1,799
1.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145€124
$108MX$1,888
34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610€522
$1,000MX$17.5K
-39.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646€553
$620MX$10.9K
4.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776€664
$2,137MX$37.4K
-63.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$781€669
$1,235MX$21.6K
-36.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,386€2,042
$2,332MX$40.8K
2.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oberhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,562€3,049
$1,067MX$18.7K
233.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
11.34
-64.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oberhausen: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $610 in Oberhausen and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oberhausen pays 234% 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: $69.0 in Oberhausen vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $355 vs $286 per month, with Mexico City 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
Oberhausen vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oberhausen and Mexico City?
Oberhausen and Mexico City differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($2,098 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Oberhausen or Mexico City?
Oberhausen pays 234% more on average, 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 Oberhausen and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $610 in Oberhausen versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oberhausen and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 177% less than in Oberhausen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oberhausen and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $464 in Oberhausen versus $436 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 $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,098 in Oberhausen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Oberhausen. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oberhausen 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 Oberhausen or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oberhausen 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: Oberhausen or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Oberhausen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Oberhausen vs other spots: cost of living compared