Cost of Living Comparison Between Split and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Split and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,922 in Split versus $1,660 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,928 in Split versus $2,565 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,934 in Split versus $3,470 in Mexico City.

Living in Split is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Split 40% above, Mexico City 21% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.47 €15.23
$11.92 MX$206
46.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5 €67.5
$51.6 MX$890
50.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 €9.95
$11.41 MX$197
-
Cappuccino
$2.90 €2.52
$3.99 MX$68.9
-27.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08 €3.56
$1.66 MX$28.61
145.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 €2.73
$1.33 MX$22.87
135.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 €4.38
$3.47 MX$59.9
44.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.84 €4.22
$5.90 MX$102
-17.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.35 €1.18
$1.88 MX$32.36
-28.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 €1.93
$3.25 MX$56.1
-31.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.88 €3.38
$2.16 MX$37.26
79.63%
Eggs
$4.28 €3.73
$2.90 MX$49.94
47.59%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.59 €12.72
$12.86 MX$222
13.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.35 €8.15
$10.05 MX$173
-6.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.84 €12.93
$15.86 MX$273
-6.43%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 €1.91
$3.29 MX$56.8
-33.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.87 €1.63
$2.01 MX$34.60
-6.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 €1.63
$2.20 MX$37.93
-15.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 €2.42
$2.36 MX$40.63
17.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 €1.43
$2.05 MX$35.43
-20.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.23 €1.07
$1.90 MX$32.79
-35.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 €1.18
$1.61 MX$27.68
-15.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 €1.14
$1.40 MX$24.09
-6.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.90 €5.15
$5.46 MX$94.2
8.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.36 €8.16
$17.65 MX$304
-46.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87 €1.63
$2.06 MX$35.44
-9.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 €2.11
$4.68 MX$80.8
-48.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Split
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.46 €1.27
$0.34 MX$5.84
329.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.77 €34.67
$20.81 MX$359
91.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.80 €3.31
$2.10 MX$36.15
80.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.16 €1.89
$0.56 MX$9.64
285.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.59 €26.67
$5.81 MX$100
426.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 €1.63
$1.61 MX$27.68
16.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.2K €25.5K
$22.8K MX$393.8K
27.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K €21.9K
$26.8K MX$461.2K
-6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 €190
$65.2 MX$1,124
233.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.85 €18.17
$30.09 MX$519
-30.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.03 €36.64
$37.18 MX$641
13.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$64.5 €56.2
$59.8 MX$1,030
7.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97 €12.18
$26.55 MX$458
-47.38%
Cinema Ticket
$9.15 €7.97
$7.04 MX$121
29.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$643 €560
$465 MX$8,012
38.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K €10.4K
$13.3K MX$228.9K
-10.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.2 €83.0
$75.9 MX$1,308
25.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.63 €34.54
$56.0 MX$965
-29.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$118 €103
$112 MX$1,929
5.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 €88.3
$121 MX$2,078
-15.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Split
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 €894
$1,103 MX$19.0K
-6.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$729 €635
$721 MX$12.4K
1.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,012 €1,754
$2,530 MX$43.6K
-20.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,369 €1,194
$1,293 MX$22.3K
5.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,463 €6,505
$3,991 MX$68.8K
86.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,022 €4,378
$2,090 MX$36.0K
140.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Split
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,635 €1,425
$1,037 MX$17.9K
57.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.44
11.3
-69.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Split: September 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,026 in Split and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Split pays 58% 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: $77.0 in Split vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $308 vs $345, with Split 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
Split vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Split and in Mexico City?
Split and Mexico City differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,922 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Split or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 58% higher in Split, 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 Split and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,026 in Split versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Split and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 91% less than in Split. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Split and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $643 in Split versus $465 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 $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,922 in Split, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Split. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Split 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 Split or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Split 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: Split or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% less than in Split. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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