😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,015 in Soest versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,050 in Soest versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,084 in Soest versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Soest is roughly 37% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Soest50% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.98€11.92
$13.30MX$231
5.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.9€58.8
$53.8MX$932
28.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.23€10.43
$9.42MX$163
29.83%
Cappuccino
$3.44€2.94
$3.59MX$62.3
-4.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40€2.04
$1.62MX$28.13
48.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.44€2.09
$1.12MX$19.49
117.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.82€3.26
$3.25MX$56.3
17.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.95
$4.65MX$80.6
-50.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.30€1.11
$1.64MX$28.37
-20.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85€1.58
$2.65MX$46.00
-30.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.26€2.78
$1.96MX$33.99
66.33%
Eggs
$2.70€2.30
$2.54MX$44.08
6.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.01€12.81
$9.97MX$173
50.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.63€12.48
$8.39MX$145
74.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.34€14.79
$11.83MX$205
46.58%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09€2.63
$2.86MX$49.62
8.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45€1.23
$1.73MX$30.05
-16.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31€1.97
$1.99MX$34.50
16.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83€4.12
$2.05MX$35.51
135.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.64€1.40
$2.06MX$35.64
-20.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63€1.39
$2.28MX$39.54
-28.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.65
$1.45MX$25.05
33.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17€1.00
$1.09MX$18.83
7.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.62€8.21
$4.27MX$73.9
125.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.74€4.89
$14.67MX$254
-60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01€0.86
$1.76MX$30.58
-42.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.42
$3.57MX$61.8
-53.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.38€2.88
$0.38MX$6.67
789.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.8€52.7
$18.73MX$325
229.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.02€3.43
$1.39MX$24.09
189.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03€1.73
$0.30MX$5.26
576.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$41.75€35.62
$5.41MX$93.8
671.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.05€1.75
$1.34MX$23.22
52.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K€27.3K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
69.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.9K€32.4K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
63.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$386€329
$40.30MX$698
856.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.00€29.86
$27.15MX$471
28.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8€44.18
$29.46MX$510
75.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.66€33.83
$52.7MX$914
-24.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.77€19.43
$26.17MX$454
-12.99%
Cinema Ticket
$17.22€14.69
$6.18MX$107
178.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$458€390
$441MX$7,637
3.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,696€8,271
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-9.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.0€81.0
$57.2MX$992
65.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.33€30.14
$45.04MX$781
-21.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$81.4€69.4
$103MX$1,793
-21.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138€117
$109MX$1,884
26.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849€724
$1,000MX$17.3K
-15.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$658€561
$632MX$11.0K
4.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,557€1,328
$2,141MX$37.1K
-27.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,221€1,041
$1,253MX$21.7K
-2.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,582€3,908
$3,745MX$64.9K
22.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,841€3,277
$2,381MX$41.3K
61.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Soest
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.97
11.34
-64.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Soest: April 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $849 in Soest and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $69 in Soest vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $333 vs $286 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
Soest vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Soest and Mexico City?
Soest and Mexico City differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($2,015 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Soest compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $3,023 in Soest and $2,199 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Soest and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $849 in Soest versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Soest and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 230% less than in Soest. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Soest and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $458 in Soest versus $441 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 $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,015 in Soest, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Soest. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Soest 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 Soest or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Soest 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: Soest or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Soest. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.