😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,616 in Rijeka versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,401 in Rijeka versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Rijeka versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Rijeka is roughly 10% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rijeka21% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.78€10.90
$13.30MX$231
-3.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.2€59.1
$53.8MX$932
28.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.36€8.84
$9.42MX$163
9.98%
Cappuccino
$2.33€1.99
$3.59MX$62.3
-35.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46€2.95
$1.62MX$28.13
113.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18€1.86
$1.12MX$19.49
94.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.30€3.67
$3.25MX$56.3
32.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.91€4.19
$4.65MX$80.6
5.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19€1.01
$1.64MX$28.37
-27.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62€1.38
$2.65MX$46.00
-38.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.12€3.51
$1.96MX$33.99
110.20%
Eggs
$3.58€3.05
$2.54MX$44.08
40.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.35€13.95
$9.97MX$173
63.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.82€9.23
$8.39MX$145
28.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.33€12.22
$11.83MX$205
21.13%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63€1.39
$2.86MX$49.62
-43.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71€1.46
$1.73MX$30.05
-1.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.47
$1.99MX$34.50
-13.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.59€2.21
$2.05MX$35.51
26.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.01
$2.06MX$35.64
-42.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.31€1.11
$2.28MX$39.54
-42.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.12€0.96
$1.45MX$25.05
-22.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€0.99
$1.09MX$18.83
7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94€5.06
$4.27MX$73.9
39.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.31€7.08
$14.67MX$254
-43.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56€1.33
$1.76MX$30.58
-11.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09€1.79
$3.57MX$61.8
-41.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.92€1.64
$0.38MX$6.67
405.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.2€47.12
$18.73MX$325
194.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.67€4.84
$1.39MX$24.09
307.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38€1.17
$0.30MX$5.26
360.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.33€25.02
$5.41MX$93.8
442.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.78€1.52
$1.34MX$23.22
32.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K€32.7K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
103.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K€22.7K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
14.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187€159
$40.30MX$698
363.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.44€19.14
$27.15MX$471
-17.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.40€28.49
$29.46MX$510
13.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7€44.94
$52.7MX$914
-0.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.00€12.80
$26.17MX$454
-42.68%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41€8.03
$6.18MX$107
52.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$289€247
$441MX$7,637
-34.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.1K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
54.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7€79.1
$57.2MX$992
62.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11€29.95
$45.04MX$781
-22.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.3€84.7
$103MX$1,793
-4.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103€87.8
$109MX$1,884
-5.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$657€561
$1,000MX$17.3K
-34.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$536€457
$632MX$11.0K
-15.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,036€884
$2,141MX$37.1K
-51.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$772€658
$1,253MX$21.7K
-38.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,252€3,627
$3,745MX$64.9K
13.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,985€3,399
$2,381MX$41.3K
67.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rijeka
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,545€1,318
$1,079MX$18.7K
43.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.63
11.34
-59.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rijeka: April 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $657 in Rijeka and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rijeka pays 43% 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 in Rijeka vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 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
Rijeka vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rijeka and Mexico City?
Rijeka and Mexico City differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,616 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rijeka or Mexico City?
Rijeka pays 43% 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 Rijeka and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $657 in Rijeka 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 Rijeka and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 195% less than in Rijeka. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rijeka and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $289 in Rijeka versus $441 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 $1,466 in Mexico City versus $1,616 in Rijeka, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Rijeka. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rijeka 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 Rijeka or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rijeka 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: Rijeka or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Rijeka. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.