😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,826 in Turnhout versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,650 in Turnhout versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,473 in Turnhout versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Turnhout is roughly 25% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Turnhout37% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.25€15.11
$13.07MX$228
31.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.0€55.2
$53.8MX$936
17.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.73€10.27
$9.68MX$169
21.18%
Cappuccino
$3.62€3.17
$3.74MX$65.1
-3.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83€2.48
$1.62MX$28.13
74.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.24
$1.16MX$20.23
120.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54€3.10
$3.23MX$56.2
9.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.74€3.28
$4.74MX$82.5
-21.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01€0.89
$1.65MX$28.68
-38.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.16€1.89
$2.75MX$47.95
-21.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.92€2.56
$1.87MX$32.63
56.15%
Eggs
$3.48€3.05
$2.50MX$43.54
39.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.76€10.30
$10.20MX$178
15.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.15€8.89
$8.25MX$144
23.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.06€14.94
$11.82MX$206
44.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67€2.34
$3.01MX$52.4
-11.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.27€1.99
$1.81MX$31.54
25.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01€1.76
$2.00MX$34.81
0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.60€2.28
$2.00MX$34.74
30.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16€1.89
$2.08MX$36.30
3.85%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64€1.43
$2.27MX$39.56
-27.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11€0.97
$1.46MX$25.36
-23.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20€1.05
$1.08MX$18.74
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.32€6.41
$4.35MX$75.7
68.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.14€4.50
$16.99MX$296
-69.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.15
$1.73MX$30.18
-24.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08€1.82
$3.58MX$62.3
-41.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.84€2.49
$0.39MX$6.74
628.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3€50.2
$18.69MX$325
206.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.43€5.63
$1.33MX$23.08
383.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.55€2.23
$0.28MX$4.87
810.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.62€30.32
$5.25MX$91.5
559.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.85€1.62
$1.34MX$23.27
38.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.6K€25.9K
$19.4KMX$338.0K
52.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0K€25.4K
$23.8KMX$415.0K
21.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184€161
$40.69MX$709
351.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.22€18.59
$26.87MX$468
-21.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.61€42.57
$30.51MX$531
59.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.7€66.3
$52.8MX$919
43.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.72€14.64
$26.65MX$464
-37.26%
Cinema Ticket
$13.64€11.95
$6.51MX$113
109.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$673€589
$428MX$7,454
57.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K€11.8K
$10.5KMX$182.8K
28.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$93.0€81.4
$57.3MX$997
62.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.53€28.49
$45.50MX$792
-28.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.7€61.1
$104MX$1,812
-32.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117€103
$108MX$1,878
8.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$812€711
$1,003MX$17.5K
-19.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$690€604
$623MX$10.8K
10.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,051€920
$2,109MX$36.7K
-50.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$907€794
$1,218MX$21.2K
-25.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,672€2,340
$1,038MX$18.1K
157.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
11.34
-82.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turnhout: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $812 in Turnhout and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Turnhout pays 157% 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: $63.0 in Turnhout vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $292, with Turnhout 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
Turnhout vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Turnhout and in Mexico City?
Turnhout and Mexico City differ by about 25% in total monthly costs ($1,826 vs $1,456 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Turnhout or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 157% higher in Turnhout, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Turnhout and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $812 in Turnhout 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 Turnhout and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 207% less than in Turnhout. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Turnhout and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $673 in Turnhout 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,826 in Turnhout, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Turnhout. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Turnhout 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 Turnhout or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Turnhout 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: Turnhout or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 25% less than in Turnhout. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.