🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,186 in Somerset West versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,965 in Somerset West versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,744 in Somerset West versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Somerset West costs roughly 29% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Somerset West is 14% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.27R 196
$12.14MX$205
1.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.27R 756
$53.9MX$911
-12.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.74R 91.8
$11.09MX$187
-48.24%
Cappuccino
$2.12R 34.00
$4.10MX$69.3
-48.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07R 17.07
$1.68MX$28.44
-36.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95R 15.23
$1.39MX$23.47
-31.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.73R 43.73
$3.33MX$56.3
-18.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46R 55.4
$5.88MX$99.4
-41.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05R 16.81
$1.85MX$31.30
-43.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03R 16.50
$3.17MX$53.6
-67.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13R 34.16
$2.07MX$35.01
2.90%
Eggs
$2.34R 37.44
$2.93MX$49.51
-20.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.95R 143
$12.59MX$213
-28.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44R 87.0
$10.11MX$171
-46.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.71R 155
$16.09MX$272
-39.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.93R 30.83
$3.39MX$57.3
-43.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.99R 31.86
$2.08MX$35.14
-4.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71R 27.34
$2.12MX$35.85
-19.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.72R 27.58
$2.41MX$40.82
-28.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57R 25.09
$2.13MX$36.00
-26.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54R 24.63
$2.01MX$33.90
-23.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38R 22.10
$1.55MX$26.13
-10.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.06R 16.97
$1.36MX$23.08
-22.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46R 55.4
$5.77MX$97.5
-40.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.40R 102
$17.74MX$300
-63.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44R 22.97
$2.07MX$35.00
-30.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84R 29.37
$4.61MX$78.0
-60.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.21R 19.31
$0.37MX$6.19
227.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.3R 980
$21.18MX$358
189.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65R 10.34
$2.05MX$34.73
-68.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.60R 25.58
$0.58MX$9.75
175.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.06R 80.9
$6.07MX$103
-16.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.44R 22.99
$1.55MX$26.25
-7.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.3KR 484.3K
$22.9KMX$386.8K
32.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.0KR 480.2K
$27.2KMX$460.5K
10.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.2R 1,379
$67.4MX$1,140
27.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.45R 503
$30.62MX$518
2.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.32R 645
$37.24MX$630
8.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$46.98R 752
$61.5MX$1,039
-23.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.11R 178
$27.12MX$459
-59.03%
Cinema Ticket
$7.44R 119
$7.11MX$120
4.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$265R 4,239
$456MX$7,714
-41.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,814R 61.0K
$13.7KMX$231.5K
-72.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.05R 513
$74.2MX$1,255
-56.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.89R 510
$57.0MX$964
-44.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.5R 1,160
$115MX$1,951
-37.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.7R 955
$122MX$2,055
-50.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$670R 10.7K
$1,148MX$19.4K
-41.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$436R 6,984
$709MX$12.0K
-38.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,369R 21.9K
$2,577MX$43.6K
-46.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$978R 15.6K
$1,295MX$21.9K
-24.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,316R 21.1K
$4,005MX$67.7K
-67.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$921R 14.7K
$2,130MX$36.0K
-56.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,476R 23.6K
$1,082MX$18.3K
36.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.12
11.3
-10.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Somerset West: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $670 in Somerset West and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Somerset West pays 36% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $47.00 in Somerset West vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $345 per month, with Somerset West 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
Somerset West vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Somerset West and in Mexico City?
Somerset West and Mexico City differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,186 vs $1,677 including rent). Somerset West is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Somerset West or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 36% higher in Somerset West, 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 Somerset West and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $670 in Somerset West versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Somerset West and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Somerset West runs roughly 189% 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 Somerset West and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $265 in Somerset West versus $456 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 $1,186 in Somerset West versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Somerset West but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Somerset West the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Somerset West 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 Somerset West or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Somerset West 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: Somerset West or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Somerset West gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Somerset West vs other spots: cost of living compared