😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,233 in Turnhout versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,247 in Turnhout versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,261 in Turnhout versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Turnhout is roughly 36% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Turnhout63% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.03€19.80
$12.11MX$205
90.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.9€57.5
$52.2MX$883
27.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.41€14.11
$10.90MX$184
50.55%
Cappuccino
$4.25€3.66
$4.05MX$68.5
4.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23€2.77
$1.72MX$29.00
87.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93€2.52
$1.38MX$23.29
112.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.51€4.74
$3.47MX$58.6
58.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06€4.35
$5.81MX$98.2
-12.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09€0.93
$1.85MX$31.33
-41.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71€1.47
$3.22MX$54.5
-46.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31€1.98
$2.09MX$35.25
10.53%
Eggs
$4.27€3.68
$2.91MX$49.18
46.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.40€8.94
$12.49MX$211
-16.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.52€8.19
$10.11MX$171
-5.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.14€17.32
$15.89MX$269
26.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91€2.50
$3.31MX$56.0
-12.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.55€2.19
$2.13MX$35.95
19.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.75€2.36
$2.19MX$37.03
25.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.05€2.62
$2.45MX$41.37
24.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29€1.97
$2.19MX$37.00
4.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00€1.72
$1.90MX$32.20
5.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17€1.01
$1.62MX$27.31
-27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.10€0.94
$1.35MX$22.82
-18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.40€11.52
$5.43MX$91.7
146.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16€4.44
$17.59MX$297
-70.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76€1.51
$2.07MX$34.96
-14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.21
$4.75MX$80.2
-45.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.87€2.47
$0.34MX$5.75
744.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.1€44.76
$21.58MX$365
141.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$11.70€10.06
$2.04MX$34.49
473.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.99€2.57
$0.58MX$9.77
415.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.4€45.92
$5.97MX$101
794.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.94€1.66
$1.62MX$27.31
19.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5K€32.3K
$22.8KMX$385.6K
64.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K€30.2K
$26.7KMX$450.7K
31.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227€196
$65.2MX$1,103
248.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54€18.52
$29.87MX$505
-27.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$48.05€41.31
$36.55MX$618
31.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$129€111
$61.0MX$1,031
111.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.48€20.18
$26.70MX$451
-12.06%
Cinema Ticket
$13.86€11.91
$6.85MX$116
102.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$579€498
$453MX$7,664
27.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K€19.3K
$13.4KMX$226.0K
68.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112€96.1
$75.0MX$1,267
49.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.1€43.03
$55.3MX$935
-9.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114€97.6
$114MX$1,920
-0.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148€127
$123MX$2,073
20.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$943€811
$1,134MX$19.2K
-16.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$822€707
$712MX$12.0K
15.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,287€1,107
$2,571MX$43.5K
-49.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,164€1,001
$1,311MX$22.2K
-11.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Turnhout
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,678€2,303
$1,047MX$17.7K
155.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.2
11.3
-71.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Turnhout: September 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $943 in Turnhout and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Turnhout pays 156% 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: $67.0 in Turnhout vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $303 vs $345, 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 36% in total monthly costs ($2,233 vs $1,646 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 156% 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: $943 in Turnhout versus $1,134 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 141% 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 $579 in Turnhout versus $453 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,233 in Turnhout, a $3,000 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 36% less than in Turnhout. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.