🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,211 in Tsu versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Tsu versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Tsu versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Tsu costs roughly 18% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tsu is 10% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.07¥1,131
$13.18MX$228
-46.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.08¥3,052
$53.9MX$934
-64.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.15¥663
$9.42MX$163
-55.94%
Cappuccino
$3.31¥530
$3.55MX$61.5
-6.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥172
$1.62MX$28.03
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72¥115
$1.11MX$19.31
-35.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.83¥452
$3.12MX$54.1
-9.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41¥706
$4.63MX$80.2
-4.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.57¥252
$1.70MX$29.48
-7.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49¥239
$2.72MX$47.10
-45.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.71¥753
$1.91MX$33.13
146.60%
Eggs
$2.42¥388
$2.54MX$43.94
-4.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.44¥1,670
$10.03MX$174
4.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.22¥995
$8.09MX$140
-23.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.12¥3,059
$11.62MX$201
64.54%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60¥577
$2.97MX$51.4
21.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12¥339
$1.81MX$31.30
17.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.60¥417
$2.01MX$34.88
29.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.54¥726
$2.03MX$35.26
123.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65¥263
$2.12MX$36.82
-22.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30¥208
$2.27MX$39.32
-42.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38¥220
$1.40MX$24.26
-1.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.83¥133
$1.13MX$19.59
-26.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97¥634
$4.27MX$74.0
-7.03%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.57¥1,531
$15.56MX$270
-38.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.13¥341
$1.76MX$30.44
21.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02¥483
$3.60MX$62.3
-16.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.59¥254
$0.38MX$6.64
318.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.5¥8,711
$19.18MX$332
183.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.46¥714
$1.38MX$23.84
223.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31¥530
$0.28MX$4.79
1082.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.36¥3,736
$5.45MX$94.4
328.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19¥190
$1.30MX$22.60
-8.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$18.7KMX$323.8K
26.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K¥2.7M
$23.1KMX$400.8K
-27.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$134¥21.5K
$40.86MX$708
228.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.99¥4,318
$26.81MX$465
0.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.90¥4,782
$29.96MX$519
-0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.3¥8,838
$52.0MX$901
6.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.98¥2,236
$26.84MX$465
-47.91%
Cinema Ticket
$12.67¥2,027
$6.30MX$109
101.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$70.3¥11.2K
$436MX$7,558
-83.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.3K¥1.6M
$10.4KMX$180.5K
-1.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.83¥7,171
$56.7MX$982
-20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.22¥4,674
$44.38MX$769
-34.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.5¥11.0K
$103MX$1,784
-33.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2¥15.1K
$106MX$1,829
-10.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474¥75.7K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-53.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336¥53.7K
$631MX$10.9K
-46.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$866¥138.5K
$2,136MX$37.0K
-59.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$669¥107.0K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-46.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,402¥704.1K
$3,903MX$67.6K
12.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,430¥388.6K
$2,064MX$35.8K
17.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.81
11.34
-84.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tsu: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Tsu and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Tsu vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $288, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Tsu vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tsu and Mexico City?
Tsu and Mexico City differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,211 vs $1,467 including rent). Tsu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Tsu compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,816 in Tsu and $2,201 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Tsu and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Tsu 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 Tsu and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Tsu runs roughly 184% 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 Tsu and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $70.3 in Tsu 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,211 in Tsu versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tsu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tsu 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 Tsu or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tsu 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: Tsu or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Tsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.