🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Stip versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,153 in Stip versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Stip versus $3,266 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 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.80MKD 311
$13.07MX$229
-55.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.99MKD 858
$53.8MX$943
-70.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.95MKD 265
$9.68MX$170
-48.86%
Cappuccino
$1.98MKD 106
$3.74MX$65.6
-47.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.76MKD 94.4
$1.62MX$28.34
8.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23MKD 66.0
$1.16MX$20.37
6.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.29MKD 123
$3.23MX$56.6
-29.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65MKD 142
$4.74MX$83.1
-44.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33MKD 71.1
$1.65MX$28.89
-19.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.67MKD 36.06
$2.75MX$48.30
-75.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.12MKD 59.9
$1.87MX$32.87
-40.11%
Eggs
$2.03MKD 109
$2.50MX$43.86
-18.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.33MKD 554
$10.20MX$179
1.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.34MKD 394
$8.25MX$145
-11.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50MKD 402
$11.82MX$207
-36.55%
Apples(1kg)
$0.90MKD 48.50
$3.01MX$52.8
-70.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MKD 73.9
$1.81MX$31.77
-23.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.31MKD 70.2
$2.00MX$35.07
-34.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63MKD 87.4
$2.00MX$35.00
-18.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99MKD 52.9
$2.08MX$36.56
-52.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37MKD 73.7
$2.27MX$39.85
-39.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58MKD 31.00
$1.46MX$25.55
-60.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41MKD 21.99
$1.08MX$18.88
-62.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95MKD 158
$4.35MX$76.3
-32.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.60MKD 408
$16.99MX$298
-55.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99MKD 53.1
$1.73MX$30.40
-42.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79MKD 95.9
$3.58MX$62.7
-50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64MKD 34.33
$0.39MX$6.79
64.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.79MKD 1,062
$18.69MX$328
5.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MKD 62.1
$1.33MX$23.25
-12.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53MKD 28.36
$0.28MX$4.91
89.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61MKD 301
$5.25MX$92.1
6.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49MKD 79.9
$1.34MX$23.44
11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.7KMKD 1.7M
$19.4KMX$340.5K
63.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
$23.8KMX$418.0K
44.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147MKD 7,908
$40.69MX$714
262.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.36MKD 502
$26.87MX$471
-65.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.45MKD 829
$30.51MX$535
-49.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.94MKD 1,499
$52.8MX$926
-47.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65MX$467
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.75MKD 255
$6.51MX$114
-27.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$219MKD 11.7K
$428MX$7,508
-48.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,186MKD 63.6K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-88.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.87MKD 1,978
$57.3MX$1,004
-35.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.76MKD 1,704
$45.50MX$798
-30.20%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4MKD 4,046
$104MX$1,825
-27.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114MKD 6,101
$108MX$1,891
5.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$209MKD 11.2K
$1,003MX$17.6K
-79.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133MKD 7,145
$623MX$10.9K
-78.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$338MKD 18.1K
$2,109MX$37.0K
-84.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203MKD 10.9K
$1,218MX$21.4K
-83.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,228MKD 65.9K
$3,885MX$68.1K
-68.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$988MKD 53.0K
$2,033MX$35.7K
-51.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Stip
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$463MKD 24.8K
$1,038MX$18.2K
-55.39%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Stip and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 124% 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 $186 vs $292 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 in Mexico City?
Stip and Mexico City differ by about 88% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $1,456 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, salaries run 124% lower in Mexico City. 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $209 in Stip versus $1,003 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 in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Stip runs roughly 6% 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 $219 in Stip versus $428 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 $774 in Stip versus $1,456 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 88% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.