🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $997 in Somerset West versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,598 in Somerset West versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,199 in Somerset West versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Somerset West costs roughly 32% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Somerset West is 26% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.31R 135
$13.18MX$228
-36.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.47R 641
$53.9MX$932
-26.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03R 81.8
$9.42MX$163
-46.60%
Cappuccino
$1.96R 31.90
$3.55MX$61.4
-44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80R 12.97
$1.62MX$27.98
-50.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87R 14.16
$1.11MX$19.27
-21.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.58R 41.98
$3.12MX$54.0
-17.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54R 41.32
$4.63MX$80.1
-45.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89R 14.39
$1.70MX$29.43
-47.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91R 14.80
$2.72MX$47.02
-66.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87R 30.37
$1.91MX$33.07
-2.09%
Eggs
$2.13R 34.57
$2.54MX$43.86
-16.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62R 124
$10.03MX$174
-24.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.87R 79.1
$8.09MX$140
-39.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.37R 120
$11.62MX$201
-36.57%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57R 25.59
$2.97MX$51.3
-47.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48R 24.13
$1.81MX$31.24
-18.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45R 23.59
$2.01MX$34.82
-27.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59R 25.89
$2.03MX$35.20
-21.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09R 17.67
$2.12MX$36.75
-48.58%
Onion(1kg)
$1.23R 19.98
$2.27MX$39.25
-45.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10R 17.81
$1.40MX$24.22
-21.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99R 16.03
$1.13MX$19.55
-12.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.13R 50.9
$4.27MX$73.9
-26.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.00R 97.6
$15.56MX$269
-61.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41R 22.99
$1.76MX$30.39
-19.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65R 26.83
$3.60MX$62.2
-54.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.63R 26.44
$0.38MX$6.62
328.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$332
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.36R 22.15
$1.38MX$23.79
-1.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.00R 16.19
$0.28MX$4.78
257.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.42R 71.8
$5.45MX$94.2
-18.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25R 20.39
$1.30MX$22.55
-3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.7KR 319.8K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
5.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KR 358.0K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-4.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5R 1,129
$40.86MX$707
70.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.26R 475
$26.81MX$464
9.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.77R 663
$29.96MX$518
36.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.58R 627
$52.0MX$900
-25.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.68R 108
$6.30MX$109
6.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216R 3,505
$436MX$7,544
-50.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,368R 54.7K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-67.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.23R 508
$56.7MX$980
-44.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.27R 443
$44.38MX$768
-38.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6R 1,081
$103MX$1,780
-35.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9R 1,038
$106MX$1,825
-39.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$619R 10.1K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-39.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386R 6,280
$631MX$10.9K
-38.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,254R 20.4K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-41.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$853R 13.9K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-31.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,246R 20.3K
$3,903MX$67.5K
-68.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$915R 14.9K
$2,064MX$35.7K
-55.69%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Somerset West
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,445R 23.5K
$1,115MX$19.3K
29.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.5
11.34
-7.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Somerset West: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $619 in Somerset West and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Somerset West pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Somerset West vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Somerset West and Mexico City differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($997 vs $1,467 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?
Somerset West pays 30% 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 Somerset West and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $619 in Somerset West 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 Somerset West and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $216 in Somerset West 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 Somerset West – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. 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 $997 in Somerset West versus $1,467 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 47% 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