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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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