🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $862 in Struga versus $1,682 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,320 in Struga versus $2,599 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,778 in Struga versus $3,516 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Struga costs roughly 49% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Struga is 37% below, Mexico City is 23% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.69MKD 403
$11.83MX$200
-35.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26MKD 1,534
$52.2MX$884
-43.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.06MKD 265
$10.87MX$184
-53.45%
Cappuccino
$1.54MKD 80.8
$4.03MX$68.2
-61.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MKD 92.0
$1.71MX$28.99
2.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20MKD 62.8
$1.34MX$22.70
-10.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.88MKD 151
$3.39MX$57.5
-15.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19MKD 167
$5.74MX$97.3
-44.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24MKD 64.9
$1.89MX$31.99
-34.39%
White Bread(500g)
$0.66MKD 34.51
$3.17MX$53.8
-79.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56MKD 81.7
$2.05MX$34.74
-23.90%
Eggs
$1.90MKD 99.5
$3.01MX$51.1
-36.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.08MKD 371
$12.61MX$214
-43.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07MKD 318
$9.94MX$169
-38.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47MKD 601
$16.00MX$271
-28.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26MKD 65.9
$3.28MX$55.6
-61.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MKD 72.9
$2.06MX$34.87
-32.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.27MKD 66.6
$2.09MX$35.36
-39.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.53MKD 80.4
$2.50MX$42.44
-38.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.86MKD 45.13
$2.05MX$34.76
-58.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.86MKD 45.08
$1.87MX$31.70
-54.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60MKD 31.67
$1.57MX$26.66
-61.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MKD 30.81
$1.39MX$23.64
-57.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48MKD 182
$5.38MX$91.2
-35.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.82MKD 200
$17.95MX$304
-78.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10MKD 57.5
$2.02MX$34.31
-45.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51MKD 79.2
$4.76MX$80.7
-68.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89MKD 46.84
$0.36MX$6.13
147.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.6MKD 3,019
$20.80MX$353
176.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.15MKD 60.4
$2.06MX$34.92
-44.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64MKD 33.59
$0.56MX$9.55
14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.15MKD 270
$5.82MX$98.6
-11.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.47MKD 77.2
$1.54MX$26.05
-4.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.8KMKD 1.9M
$22.5KMX$380.6K
63.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.4KMKD 1.5M
$26.5KMX$448.7K
7.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102MKD 5,325
$66.0MX$1,118
53.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32MKD 594
$30.98MX$525
-63.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.64MKD 1,030
$36.20MX$613
-45.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.67MKD 1,084
$57.5MX$975
-64.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.14MKD 636
$26.75MX$453
-54.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.77MKD 355
$7.13MX$121
-5.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$122MKD 6,377
$457MX$7,738
-73.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,656MKD 86.8K
$13.2KMX$224.5K
-87.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$91.0MKD 4,773
$75.8MX$1,285
20.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.13MKD 1,685
$54.1MX$917
-40.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.4MKD 3,952
$116MX$1,974
-35.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.3MKD 2,900
$122MX$2,063
-54.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MKD 14.7K
$1,147MX$19.4K
-75.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$227MKD 11.9K
$726MX$12.3K
-68.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$453MKD 23.7K
$2,503MX$42.4K
-81.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370MKD 19.4K
$1,331MX$22.6K
-72.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,565MKD 82.1K
$3,895MX$66.0K
-59.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,419MKD 74.4K
$2,149MX$36.4K
-33.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Struga
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$901MKD 47.2K
$1,069MX$18.1K
-15.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.75
11.35
-66.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Struga: August 16, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Struga and $1,147 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 19% 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: $29.00 in Struga vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $344 per month, with Struga 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
Struga vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Struga and in Mexico City?
Struga and Mexico City differ by about 95% in total monthly costs ($862 vs $1,682 including rent). Struga 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 19% 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 Struga and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Struga versus $1,147 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Struga and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Struga runs roughly 177% 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 Struga and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $122 in Struga versus $457 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 $2,000 per month?
At $862 in Struga versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Struga but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Struga the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Struga 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 Struga or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Struga 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: Struga or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Struga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.