🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Stip versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,138 in Stip versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,497 in Stip versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Stip costs roughly 47% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Stip is 42% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.74MKD 302
$13.18MX$228
-56.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.11MKD 849
$53.9MX$932
-70.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.92MKD 259
$9.42MX$163
-47.77%
Cappuccino
$1.89MKD 99.4
$3.55MX$61.4
-46.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74MKD 92.0
$1.62MX$27.98
7.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21MKD 64.0
$1.11MX$19.27
9.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21MKD 117
$3.12MX$54.0
-29.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79MKD 147
$4.63MX$80.1
-39.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.29MKD 67.9
$1.70MX$29.43
-24.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68MKD 35.66
$2.72MX$47.02
-75.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10MKD 58.2
$1.91MX$33.07
-42.41%
Eggs
$2.10MKD 111
$2.54MX$43.86
-17.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.32MKD 544
$10.03MX$174
2.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.23MKD 381
$8.09MX$140
-10.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.43MKD 392
$11.62MX$201
-36.06%
Apples(1kg)
$0.97MKD 51.2
$2.97MX$51.3
-67.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43MKD 75.6
$1.81MX$31.24
-20.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 69.0
$2.01MX$34.82
-34.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58MKD 83.1
$2.03MX$35.20
-22.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93MKD 48.85
$2.12MX$36.75
-56.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39MKD 73.1
$2.27MX$39.25
-38.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.53MKD 28.17
$1.40MX$24.22
-62.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40MKD 21.30
$1.13MX$19.55
-64.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05MKD 161
$4.27MX$73.9
-28.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.49MKD 395
$15.56MX$269
-51.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01MKD 53.4
$1.76MX$30.39
-42.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81MKD 95.3
$3.60MX$62.2
-49.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63MKD 33.06
$0.38MX$6.62
65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.52MKD 1,082
$19.18MX$332
6.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.10MKD 58.1
$1.38MX$23.79
-20.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49MKD 25.84
$0.28MX$4.78
75.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61MKD 296
$5.45MX$94.2
2.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45MKD 76.2
$1.30MX$22.55
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.4KMKD 1.7M
$18.7KMX$323.2K
67.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
48.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$144MKD 7,568
$40.86MX$707
251.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.23MKD 486
$26.81MX$464
-65.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.31MKD 807
$29.96MX$518
-48.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.83MKD 1,467
$52.0MX$900
-46.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.74MKD 250
$6.30MX$109
-24.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$216MKD 11.4K
$436MX$7,544
-50.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,182MKD 62.3K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-88.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.03MKD 2,004
$56.7MX$980
-32.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.80MKD 1,676
$44.38MX$768
-28.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6MKD 3,933
$103MX$1,780
-27.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,013
$106MX$1,825
8.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$207MKD 10.9K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-79.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MKD 7,008
$631MX$10.9K
-78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344MKD 18.1K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-83.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204MKD 10.8K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-83.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,257MKD 66.3K
$3,903MX$67.5K
-67.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,026MKD 54.1K
$2,064MX$35.7K
-50.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$467MKD 24.6K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-58.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.1
11.34
-37.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Stip: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $207 in Stip and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 139% 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: $16.00 in Stip vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $288 per month, with Stip 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
Stip vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Stip and Mexico City?
Stip and Mexico City differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $1,467 including rent). Stip is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 139% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Stip and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $207 in Stip versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Stip and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Stip runs roughly 7% 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 Stip and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $216 in Stip versus $436 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 $1,500 per month?
At $778 in Stip versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Stip but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Stip the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Stip 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 Stip or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Stip 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: Stip or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Stip gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.