๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,834 in Turnhout versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,636 in Turnhout versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,439 in Turnhout versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Turnhout is roughly 24% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Turnhout36% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.54โฌ14.93
$13.29MX$231
31.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5โฌ54.0
$53.8MX$933
18.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.38โฌ9.69
$9.29MX$161
22.50%
Cappuccino
$3.67โฌ3.13
$3.61MX$62.6
1.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86โฌ2.44
$1.56MX$27.03
83.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54โฌ2.16
$1.12MX$19.46
126.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.37โฌ2.87
$3.13MX$54.3
7.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62โฌ3.08
$4.71MX$81.7
-23.14%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93โฌ0.79
$1.70MX$29.54
-45.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.09โฌ1.77
$2.77MX$48.03
-24.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.00โฌ2.55
$1.96MX$34.05
53.06%
Eggs
$3.46โฌ2.95
$2.60MX$45.21
33.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.95โฌ10.17
$9.94MX$173
20.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.16โฌ8.65
$8.10MX$141
25.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.33โฌ14.75
$11.50MX$200
50.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64โฌ2.24
$2.87MX$49.84
-8.01%
Banana(1kg)
$2.26โฌ1.92
$1.73MX$30.07
30.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01โฌ1.71
$2.00MX$34.73
0.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.57โฌ2.19
$2.04MX$35.38
25.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.14โฌ1.83
$2.08MX$36.14
2.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.64โฌ1.40
$2.20MX$38.12
-25.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13โฌ0.96
$1.45MX$25.24
-22.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24โฌ1.05
$1.07MX$18.63
15.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.47โฌ6.35
$4.27MX$74.2
74.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.40โฌ4.59
$14.32MX$249
-62.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30โฌ1.11
$1.76MX$30.62
-26.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08โฌ1.77
$3.70MX$64.2
-43.78%
๐ Getting Around
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.92โฌ2.48
$0.35MX$6.12
734.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.6โฌ47.34
$19.19MX$333
189.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22โฌ5.30
$1.34MX$23.18
364.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.68โฌ2.28
$0.28MX$4.83
857.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.99โฌ29.78
$5.33MX$92.6
556.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$1.34MX$23.27
42.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9Kโฌ25.5K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
56.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1Kโฌ23.9K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
17.84%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$185โฌ157
$39.86MX$692
362.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.34โฌ18.16
$26.78MX$465
-20.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.37โฌ41.16
$29.36MX$510
64.75%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$75.7โฌ64.4
$53.4MX$927
41.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.29โฌ14.72
$26.09MX$453
-33.73%
Cinema Ticket
$13.95โฌ11.87
$6.40MX$111
117.97%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$658โฌ560
$440MX$7,647
49.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6Kโฌ11.5K
$10.8KMX$186.6K
26.24%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.0โฌ80.0
$57.6MX$1,000
63.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.92โฌ27.16
$45.02MX$781
-29.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.5โฌ58.3
$104MX$1,801
-33.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116โฌ98.4
$108MX$1,874
7.10%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$820โฌ698
$1,013MX$17.6K
-19.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$697โฌ593
$630MX$10.9K
10.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,063โฌ905
$2,162MX$37.5K
-50.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920โฌ783
$1,222MX$21.2K
-24.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,442โฌ2,929
$3,793MX$65.8K
-9.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,562โฌ2,180
$2,332MX$40.5K
9.87%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,783โฌ2,368
$1,075MX$18.7K
158.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2
11.34
-82.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turnhout: April 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $820 in Turnhout and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐTurnhout pays 159% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $63 in Turnhout vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $285 per month, with Mexico City 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
Turnhout vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Turnhout and Mexico City?
Turnhout and Mexico City differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,834 vs $1,484 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Turnhout or Mexico City?
Turnhout pays 159% more on average, 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $820 in Turnhout versus $1,013 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 Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 190% 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 $658 in Turnhout versus $440 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 $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,834 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 24% less than in Turnhout. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.