๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,151 in Schaffhausen versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,931 in Schaffhausen versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,712 in Schaffhausen versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Schaffhausen is roughly 115% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Schaffhausen135% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.31CHFย 24.55
$13.30MX$231
135.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$125CHFย 98.1
$53.8MX$932
132.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$15.86CHFย 12.43
$9.42MX$163
68.37%
Cappuccino
$5.43CHFย 4.26
$3.59MX$62.3
51.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.42CHFย 4.25
$1.62MX$28.13
234.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42CHFย 3.47
$1.12MX$19.49
294.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.20CHFย 6.43
$3.25MX$56.3
152.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.59CHFย 5.95
$4.65MX$80.6
63.23%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.90CHFย 1.49
$1.64MX$28.37
15.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.79CHFย 2.97
$2.65MX$46.00
43.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.55CHFย 2.79
$1.96MX$33.99
81.12%
Eggs
$7.66CHFย 6.01
$2.54MX$44.08
201.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$29.66CHFย 23.25
$9.97MX$173
197.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$35.28CHFย 27.66
$8.39MX$145
320.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$51.8CHFย 40.59
$11.83MX$205
337.62%
Apples(1kg)
$3.77CHFย 2.95
$2.86MX$49.62
31.82%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24CHFย 1.76
$1.73MX$30.05
29.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.87CHFย 2.25
$1.99MX$34.50
44.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.02CHFย 4.72
$2.05MX$35.51
193.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.46CHFย 1.93
$2.06MX$35.64
19.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.44CHFย 1.92
$2.28MX$39.54
7.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.67CHFย 2.10
$1.45MX$25.05
84.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28CHFย 1.01
$1.09MX$18.83
17.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.29CHFย 8.85
$4.27MX$73.9
164.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.90CHFย 10.90
$14.67MX$254
-5.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36CHFย 1.07
$1.76MX$30.58
-22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75CHFย 2.15
$3.57MX$61.8
-22.97%
๐ Getting Around
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.79CHFย 2.97
$0.38MX$6.67
897.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$85.1CHFย 66.7
$18.73MX$325
354.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.08CHFย 7.91
$1.39MX$24.09
625.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.11CHFย 3.22
$0.30MX$5.26
1270.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$62.3CHFย 48.83
$5.41MX$93.8
1051.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.15CHFย 1.69
$1.34MX$23.22
60.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.9KCHFย 32.0K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
116.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.5KCHFย 33.3K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
83.14%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$242CHFย 190
$40.30MX$698
501.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.69CHFย 22.49
$27.15MX$471
5.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.53CHFย 34.13
$29.46MX$510
47.76%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109CHFย 85.7
$52.7MX$914
107.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.51CHFย 37.25
$26.17MX$454
81.54%
Cinema Ticket
$22.50CHFย 17.64
$6.18MX$107
264.08%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,325CHFย 2,607
$441MX$7,637
654.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$43.6KCHFย 34.1K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
307.11%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112CHFย 87.9
$57.2MX$992
95.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.3CHFย 53.5
$45.04MX$781
51.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$130CHFย 102
$103MX$1,793
25.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$158CHFย 124
$109MX$1,884
45.38%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,214CHFย 952
$1,000MX$17.3K
21.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221CHFย 957
$632MX$11.0K
93.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,754CHFย 2,159
$2,141MX$37.1K
28.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,163CHFย 1,696
$1,253MX$21.7K
72.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,567CHFย 6,717
$3,745MX$64.9K
128.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,910CHFย 5,417
$2,381MX$41.3K
190.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$9,437CHFย 7,398
$1,079MX$18.7K
774.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.34
-77.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Schaffhausen: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,214 in Schaffhausen and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐSchaffhausen pays 774% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $125 in Schaffhausen vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $675 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
Schaffhausen vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Schaffhausen and Mexico City?
Schaffhausen and Mexico City differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($3,151 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Schaffhausen or Mexico City?
Schaffhausen pays 774% 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 Schaffhausen and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,214 in Schaffhausen 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 Schaffhausen and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 354% less than in Schaffhausen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Schaffhausen and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $3,325 in Schaffhausen 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 $3,151 in Schaffhausen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Schaffhausen. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Schaffhausen and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Schaffhausen or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Schaffhausen 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: Schaffhausen or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 115% less than in Schaffhausen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Schaffhausen vs other spots: cost of living compared