😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,151 in Schaffhausen versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,139 in Schaffhausen versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,126 in Schaffhausen versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Schaffhausen is roughly 88% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Schaffhausen129% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.20CHF 25.46
$12.14MX$206
157.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$121CHF 99.0
$53.9MX$914
125.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.87CHF 15.40
$11.09MX$188
70.15%
Cappuccino
$5.75CHF 4.69
$4.10MX$69.5
40.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.47CHF 4.47
$1.68MX$28.53
225.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.99CHF 4.07
$1.39MX$23.55
258.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.73CHF 7.13
$3.33MX$56.5
162.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.46CHF 6.09
$5.88MX$99.7
26.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.21CHF 1.81
$1.85MX$31.41
19.46%
White Bread(500g)
$4.15CHF 3.38
$3.17MX$53.8
30.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.36CHF 3.55
$2.07MX$35.13
110.63%
Eggs
$7.84CHF 6.40
$2.93MX$49.67
167.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.35CHF 23.14
$12.59MX$214
125.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$32.11CHF 26.20
$10.11MX$172
217.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.79CHF 35.74
$16.09MX$273
172.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.92CHF 3.20
$3.39MX$57.5
15.63%
Banana(1kg)
$2.19CHF 1.79
$2.08MX$35.26
5.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.17CHF 2.59
$2.12MX$35.97
49.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.68CHF 4.63
$2.41MX$40.95
135.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CHF 2.05
$2.13MX$36.11
18.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.25CHF 1.84
$2.01MX$34.02
11.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.46CHF 2.00
$1.55MX$26.21
58.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25CHF 1.02
$1.36MX$23.15
-8.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.23CHF 9.17
$5.77MX$97.8
94.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.72CHF 11.20
$17.74MX$301
-22.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.04CHF 2.48
$2.07MX$35.11
46.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97CHF 3.24
$4.61MX$78.3
-13.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.95CHF 3.22
$0.37MX$6.21
967.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.4CHF 81.1
$21.18MX$359
369.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.26CHF 5.11
$2.05MX$34.84
205.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.81CHF 3.11
$0.58MX$9.79
556.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.5CHF 50.2
$6.07MX$103
913.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.81
$1.55MX$26.34
43.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.7KCHF 36.5K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
95.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.8KCHF 33.3K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
49.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$228CHF 186
$67.4MX$1,144
237.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.99CHF 26.11
$30.62MX$520
4.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.0CHF 52.2
$37.24MX$632
71.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$112CHF 91.1
$61.5MX$1,043
81.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.98CHF 38.34
$27.12MX$460
73.23%
Cinema Ticket
$23.97CHF 19.56
$7.11MX$121
237.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$3,228CHF 2,634
$456MX$7,739
607.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$33.3KCHF 27.1K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
142.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$170CHF 138
$74.2MX$1,259
128.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9CHF 44.83
$57.0MX$967
-3.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$193CHF 157
$115MX$1,958
66.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$157CHF 128
$122MX$2,061
28.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,362CHF 1,112
$1,148MX$19.5K
18.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,200CHF 980
$709MX$12.0K
69.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,710CHF 2,212
$2,577MX$43.7K
5.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,411CHF 1,967
$1,295MX$22.0K
86.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,369CHF 6,830
$4,005MX$67.9K
108.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,438CHF 6,886
$2,130MX$36.1K
296.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Schaffhausen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$7,296CHF 5,954
$1,082MX$18.4K
574.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.48
11.3
-78.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Schaffhausen: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,362 in Schaffhausen and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Schaffhausen pays 574% 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: $121 in Schaffhausen vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $651 vs $345 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 in Mexico City?
Schaffhausen and Mexico City differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($3,151 vs $1,677 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Schaffhausen or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 574% higher in Schaffhausen, 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,362 in Schaffhausen versus $1,148 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 in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 369% 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 $3,228 in Schaffhausen versus $456 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 $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,151 in Schaffhausen, a $3,000 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 – 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 – expenses run 88% 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