😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,926 in Siena versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,885 in Siena versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,844 in Siena versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Siena is roughly 31% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Siena44% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.45€15.01
$13.18MX$228
32.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.0€68.8
$53.9MX$932
48.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.40€9.80
$9.42MX$163
21.02%
Cappuccino
$1.97€1.69
$3.55MX$61.4
-44.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05€2.62
$1.62MX$27.98
88.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$1.11MX$19.27
22.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75€4.94
$3.12MX$54.0
84.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.66€4.87
$4.63MX$80.1
22.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44€1.24
$1.70MX$29.43
-15.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40€2.06
$2.72MX$47.02
-11.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19€1.89
$1.91MX$33.07
14.66%
Eggs
$4.33€3.72
$2.54MX$43.86
70.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.35€12.35
$10.03MX$174
43.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.97€11.16
$8.09MX$140
60.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$22.05€18.97
$11.62MX$201
89.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.74€2.36
$2.97MX$51.3
-7.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$1.81MX$31.24
37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62€3.12
$2.01MX$34.82
80.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.62€3.12
$2.03MX$35.20
78.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$2.12MX$36.75
-5.66%
Onion(1kg)
$1.84€1.59
$2.27MX$39.25
-18.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.49€1.28
$1.40MX$24.22
6.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62€0.53
$1.13MX$19.55
-45.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.07€6.09
$4.27MX$73.9
65.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88€5.92
$15.56MX$269
-55.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71€1.47
$1.76MX$30.39
-2.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.26
$3.60MX$62.2
-26.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.99€1.71
$0.38MX$6.62
423.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.93€35.21
$19.18MX$332
113.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.75€5.80
$1.38MX$23.79
389.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13€1.83
$0.28MX$4.78
660.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.90€28.30
$5.45MX$94.2
503.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.08€1.79
$1.30MX$22.55
60.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K€23.5K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
46.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K€31.6K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
58.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$267€230
$40.86MX$707
553.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.76€10.97
$26.81MX$464
-52.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.95€26.63
$29.96MX$518
3.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$79.5€68.4
$52.0MX$900
52.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.50€20.22
$26.84MX$464
-12.44%
Cinema Ticket
$9.10€7.82
$6.30MX$109
44.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117€101
$436MX$7,544
-73.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.3K€9,762
$10.4KMX$180.2K
8.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.9€79.0
$56.7MX$980
62.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.14€32.81
$44.38MX$768
-14.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.3€78.5
$103MX$1,780
-11.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127€109
$106MX$1,825
20.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,074€924
$1,022MX$17.7K
5.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$714€614
$631MX$10.9K
13.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,723€1,482
$2,136MX$36.9K
-19.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,080€929
$1,243MX$21.5K
-13.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,689€4,034
$3,903MX$67.5K
20.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,051€3,485
$2,064MX$35.7K
96.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Siena
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,954€1,681
$1,115MX$19.3K
75.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.24
11.34
-62.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Siena: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,074 in Siena and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Siena pays 75% 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: $80.0 in Siena vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $350 vs $288 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
Siena vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Siena and Mexico City?
Siena and Mexico City differ by about 31% in total monthly costs ($1,926 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Siena or Mexico City?
Siena pays 75% 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 Siena and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,074 in Siena versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Siena and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 113% less than in Siena. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Siena and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $117 in Siena 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,926 in Siena, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Siena. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Siena 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 Siena or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Siena 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: Siena or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Siena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.