🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $635 in Surinam versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,067 in Surinam versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,498 in Surinam versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Surinam costs roughly 62% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Surinam is 54% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.77MUR 274
$11.92MX$205
-51.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.66MUR 1,836
$51.6MX$886
-25.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.50MUR 356
$11.41MX$196
-34.27%
Cappuccino
$2.58MUR 123
$3.99MX$68.6
-35.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MUR 54.6
$1.66MX$28.48
-30.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MUR 29.68
$1.33MX$22.77
-53.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.57MUR 122
$3.47MX$59.6
-25.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MUR 226
$5.90MX$101
-19.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.55MUR 73.7
$1.88MX$32.21
-17.55%
White Bread(500g)
$0.75MUR 35.59
$3.25MX$55.9
-76.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15MUR 54.6
$2.16MX$37.10
-46.76%
Eggs
$2.56MUR 122
$2.90MX$49.72
-11.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.20MUR 247
$12.86MX$221
-59.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47MUR 307
$10.05MX$173
-35.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41MUR 542
$15.86MX$272
-28.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78MUR 132
$3.29MX$56.6
-15.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.63MUR 125
$2.01MX$34.44
30.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45MUR 69.1
$2.20MX$37.76
-34.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.94MUR 140
$2.36MX$40.44
24.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94MUR 44.45
$2.05MX$35.27
-54.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00MUR 47.70
$1.90MX$32.64
-47.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74MUR 35.02
$1.61MX$27.55
-54.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84MUR 40.11
$1.40MX$23.98
-40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.28MUR 298
$5.46MX$93.8
15.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.37MUR 397
$17.65MX$303
-52.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66MUR 78.7
$2.06MX$35.28
-19.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38MUR 113
$4.68MX$80.4
-49.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.34MX$5.81
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$20.81MX$357
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.35MUR 207
$2.10MX$35.99
107.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.27MUR 155
$0.56MX$9.60
483.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.30MUR 1,012
$5.81MX$99.8
266.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.40MUR 66.4
$1.61MX$27.56
-13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6KMUR 1.7M
$22.8KMX$392.1K
60.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.1KMUR 1.5M
$26.8KMX$459.2K
16.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.49MUR 2,113
$65.2MX$1,119
-31.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.55MUR 501
$30.09MX$517
-64.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.75MUR 1,366
$37.18MX$638
-22.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$59.8MX$1,026
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.55MX$456
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.55MUR 311
$7.04MX$121
-6.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MUR 6,023
$465MX$7,976
-72.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,624MUR 362.1K
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-42.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$76.9MUR 3,652
$75.9MX$1,303
1.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$74.9MUR 3,559
$56.0MX$960
33.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122MUR 5,809
$112MX$1,920
9.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6MUR 3,638
$121MX$2,068
-36.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,103MX$18.9K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$721MX$12.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,530MX$43.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,293MX$22.2K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surinam
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,037MX$17.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.67
11.3
-40.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surinam: September 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Surinam vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $345 per month, with Surinam 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
Surinam vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surinam and in Mexico City?
Surinam and Mexico City differ by about 161% in total monthly costs ($635 vs $1,660 including rent). Surinam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Surinam compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $952 in Surinam and $2,489 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surinam and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $127 in Surinam versus $465 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Surinam – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $635 in Surinam versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Surinam but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Surinam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surinam 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 Surinam or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surinam 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: Surinam or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Surinam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 161% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.