😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,187 in Sliema versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,413 in Sliema versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,638 in Sliema versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Sliema is roughly 49% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sliema63% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.22€18.25
$13.18MX$228
61.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.5€82.2
$53.9MX$932
77.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.79€10.14
$9.42MX$163
25.16%
Cappuccino
$2.87€2.47
$3.55MX$61.4
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99€2.57
$1.62MX$27.98
84.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23€1.92
$1.11MX$19.27
100.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.58€3.94
$3.12MX$54.0
46.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.64€3.99
$4.63MX$80.1
0.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40€1.20
$1.70MX$29.43
-17.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.23€1.06
$2.72MX$47.02
-54.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.17€3.59
$1.91MX$33.07
118.32%
Eggs
$4.48€3.85
$2.54MX$43.86
76.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.27€8.83
$10.03MX$174
2.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.13€7.85
$8.09MX$140
12.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.94€16.29
$11.62MX$201
62.99%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46€3.83
$2.97MX$51.3
50.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.13€2.69
$1.81MX$31.24
72.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.21€2.76
$2.01MX$34.82
59.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.65€3.14
$2.03MX$35.20
79.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.48€2.13
$2.12MX$36.75
16.98%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$2.27MX$39.25
-40.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.44€2.10
$1.40MX$24.22
74.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.08
$1.13MX$19.55
10.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.34€5.45
$4.27MX$73.9
48.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49€7.30
$15.56MX$269
-45.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92€1.65
$1.76MX$30.39
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35€2.02
$3.60MX$62.2
-34.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.93€2.52
$0.38MX$6.62
671.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$332
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.66€4.87
$1.38MX$23.79
310.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.13€3.55
$0.28MX$4.78
1375.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$49.29€42.40
$5.45MX$94.2
804.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57€1.35
$1.30MX$22.55
20.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3K€32.9K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
104.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.1K€32.8K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
64.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.9€80.8
$40.86MX$707
129.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.53€24.54
$26.81MX$464
6.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.78€39.38
$29.96MX$518
52.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.9€58.5
$52.0MX$900
30.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.05€19.83
$26.84MX$464
-14.12%
Cinema Ticket
$10.37€8.92
$6.30MX$109
64.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$782€672
$436MX$7,544
79.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1K€9,548
$10.4KMX$180.2K
6.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.4€78.6
$56.7MX$980
61.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.23€32.88
$44.38MX$768
-13.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.2
$103MX$1,780
-1.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102€88.1
$106MX$1,825
-2.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,419€1,221
$1,022MX$17.7K
38.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,122€965
$631MX$10.9K
77.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,453€2,110
$2,136MX$36.9K
14.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,943€1,672
$1,243MX$21.5K
56.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,563€4,785
$3,903MX$67.5K
42.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,693€3,177
$2,064MX$35.7K
78.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sliema
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,913€1,646
$1,115MX$19.3K
71.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.08
11.34
-55.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sliema: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,419 in Sliema and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sliema pays 72% 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: $96.0 in Sliema vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 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
Sliema vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sliema and Mexico City?
Sliema and Mexico City differ by about 49% in total monthly costs ($2,187 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: Sliema or Mexico City?
Sliema pays 72% 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 Sliema and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,419 in Sliema versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sliema and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $782 in Sliema versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $96.0 in Sliema. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,187 in Sliema, a $2,000 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 49% less than in Sliema. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.