🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $844 in Sentul versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,261 in Sentul versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,677 in Sentul versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sentul costs roughly 42% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sentul is 37% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.55MYR 14.53
$13.07MX$229
-72.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.00MYR 77.7
$53.8MX$943
-64.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.62MYR 18.89
$9.68MX$170
-52.27%
Cappuccino
$2.71MYR 11.10
$3.74MX$65.6
-27.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67MYR 2.76
$1.62MX$28.34
-58.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45MYR 1.85
$1.16MX$20.37
-61.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.44MYR 14.08
$3.23MX$56.6
6.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.15MYR 21.07
$4.74MX$83.1
8.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MYR 7.68
$1.65MX$28.89
13.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00MYR 4.10
$2.75MX$48.30
-63.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80MYR 7.36
$1.87MX$32.87
-3.74%
Eggs
$1.90MYR 7.76
$2.50MX$43.86
-24.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.68MYR 43.66
$10.20MX$179
4.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.41MYR 13.95
$8.25MX$145
-58.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.97MYR 32.61
$11.82MX$207
-32.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.77MYR 11.33
$3.01MX$52.8
-7.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MYR 6.19
$1.81MX$31.77
-16.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.47MYR 10.09
$2.00MX$35.07
23.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.11
$2.00MX$35.00
-37.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13MYR 4.64
$2.08MX$36.56
-45.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.64
$2.27MX$39.85
-39.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94MYR 3.84
$1.46MX$25.55
-35.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MYR 2.44
$1.08MX$18.88
-44.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MYR 17.77
$4.35MX$76.3
-
Wine(Bottle)
$14.13MYR 57.8
$16.99MX$298
-16.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67MYR 10.92
$1.73MX$30.40
54.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01MYR 12.31
$3.58MX$62.7
-15.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.68MYR 2.79
$0.39MX$6.79
74.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.91MYR 48.72
$18.69MX$328
-36.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.98MYR 3.99
$1.33MX$23.25
-26.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MYR 4.18
$0.28MX$4.91
264.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.09MYR 37.16
$5.25MX$92.1
73.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.04
$1.34MX$23.44
-62.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.9KMYR 130.3K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
64.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KMYR 113.9K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
16.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.41MYR 165
$40.69MX$714
-0.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.94MYR 36.57
$26.87MX$471
-66.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.35MYR 95.5
$30.51MX$535
-23.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.18MYR 152
$52.8MX$926
-29.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.78MYR 23.64
$26.65MX$467
-78.31%
Cinema Ticket
$5.07MYR 20.72
$6.51MX$114
-22.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$187MYR 763
$428MX$7,508
-56.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,016MYR 28.7K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-33.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1MYR 262
$57.3MX$1,004
11.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.93MYR 114
$45.50MX$798
-38.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.9MYR 245
$104MX$1,825
-42.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.06MYR 201
$108MX$1,891
-54.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390MYR 1,595
$1,003MX$17.6K
-61.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270MYR 1,106
$623MX$10.9K
-56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$653MYR 2,671
$2,109MX$37.0K
-69.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467MYR 1,910
$1,218MX$21.4K
-61.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,138MYR 8,746
$3,885MX$68.1K
-44.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186MYR 4,849
$2,033MX$35.7K
-41.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sentul
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$900MYR 3,679
$1,038MX$18.2K
-13.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.07
11.34
-64.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sentul: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $390 in Sentul and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 15% 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: $19.00 in Sentul vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $220 vs $292 per month, with Sentul 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
Sentul vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sentul and in Mexico City?
Sentul and Mexico City differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($844 vs $1,456 including rent). Sentul is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 15% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sentul and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $390 in Sentul versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sentul and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sentul runs roughly 57% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sentul and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $187 in Sentul versus $428 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 $1,000 per month?
At $844 in Sentul versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sentul but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sentul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sentul 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 Sentul or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sentul 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: Sentul or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sentul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.