😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,477 in Sliema versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,930 in Sliema versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,384 in Sliema versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sliema is roughly 50% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sliema80% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.96€17.22
$12.11MX$206
64.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$89.6€77.2
$52.2MX$887
71.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.89€11.98
$10.90MX$185
27.43%
Cappuccino
$2.76€2.38
$4.05MX$68.9
-31.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22€2.78
$1.72MX$29.15
87.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30€1.98
$1.38MX$23.41
66.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.65€4.01
$3.47MX$58.9
34.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.29€4.56
$5.81MX$98.8
-8.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43€1.23
$1.85MX$31.50
-22.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36€1.17
$3.22MX$54.8
-57.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.54€3.91
$2.09MX$35.44
117.22%
Eggs
$4.36€3.76
$2.91MX$49.44
49.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.74€7.54
$12.49MX$212
-30.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95€9.44
$10.11MX$172
8.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.77€16.19
$15.89MX$270
18.12%
Apples(1kg)
$4.37€3.77
$3.31MX$56.3
32.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.88€2.49
$2.13MX$36.14
35.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.78€3.26
$2.19MX$37.22
72.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.44€2.97
$2.45MX$41.59
40.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52€2.17
$2.19MX$37.20
15.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.13€1.84
$1.90MX$32.37
12.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36€2.04
$1.62MX$27.45
45.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36€1.17
$1.35MX$22.94
0.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.15€6.17
$5.43MX$92.2
31.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.58€7.40
$17.59MX$299
-51.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83€1.58
$2.07MX$35.14
-11.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.09
$4.75MX$80.7
-49.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$0.34MX$5.78
573.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$140€121
$21.58MX$367
547.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.87€5.06
$2.04MX$34.67
187.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.37€2.05
$0.58MX$9.82
308.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.49€23.71
$5.97MX$101
360.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52€1.31
$1.62MX$27.46
-6.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K€34.1K
$22.8KMX$387.6K
73.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K€34.4K
$26.7KMX$453.1K
49.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108€92.9
$65.2MX$1,109
65.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.58€22.93
$29.87MX$508
-11.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.33€38.24
$36.55MX$621
21.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.2€66.5
$61.0MX$1,037
26.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.55€14.28
$26.70MX$454
-38.01%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43€8.99
$6.85MX$116
52.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$374€322
$453MX$7,705
-17.57%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.4K€9,841
$13.4KMX$227.2K
-14.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.1€77.7
$75.0MX$1,274
20.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.70€36.83
$55.3MX$940
-22.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€88.0
$114MX$1,931
-10.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.9€70.7
$123MX$2,084
-33.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,783€1,538
$1,134MX$19.3K
57.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,287€1,110
$712MX$12.1K
80.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,086€2,661
$2,571MX$43.7K
20.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,460€2,122
$1,311MX$22.3K
87.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,642€4,866
$3,993MX$67.8K
41.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,730€3,217
$2,095MX$35.6K
78.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,902€1,640
$1,047MX$17.8K
81.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.9
11.3
-74.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliema: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,783 in Sliema and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sliema pays 82% 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: $90.0 in Sliema vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $341 vs $345, with Sliema cheaper for home cooking.
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
Sliema vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sliema and in Mexico City?
Sliema and Mexico City differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($2,477 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Sliema or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 82% higher in Sliema, 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 Sliema and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,783 in Sliema versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sliema and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 548% less than in Sliema. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sliema and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $374 in Sliema versus $453 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 $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,477 in Sliema, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Sliema. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sliema 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 Sliema or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sliema 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: Sliema or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Sliema. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.