🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $839 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,250 in Ulyanovsk versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,660 in Ulyanovsk versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Ulyanovsk costs roughly 43% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ulyanovsk is 37% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.66₽651
$12.98MX$227
-33.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.05₽2,407
$53.1MX$929
-39.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.86₽440
$9.72MX$170
-39.71%
Cappuccino
$2.39₽180
$3.75MX$65.6
-36.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06₽79.7
$1.57MX$27.46
-32.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45₽33.61
$1.13MX$19.76
-60.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.90₽67.8
$3.18MX$55.7
-71.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70₽128
$4.66MX$81.6
-63.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11₽83.4
$1.62MX$28.37
-31.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60₽44.96
$2.71MX$47.36
-77.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.22₽91.9
$1.88MX$32.89
-35.11%
Eggs
$1.53₽115
$2.51MX$43.90
-39.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.25₽695
$10.08MX$176
-8.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.79₽359
$8.29MX$145
-42.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.43₽633
$11.94MX$209
-29.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31₽98.2
$2.86MX$50.1
-54.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53₽115
$1.75MX$30.62
-12.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46₽110
$2.08MX$36.48
-29.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75₽132
$1.97MX$34.46
-11.17%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67₽50.0
$2.16MX$37.79
-68.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39₽29.32
$2.18MX$38.16
-82.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.82₽137
$1.39MX$24.34
30.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53₽40.10
$1.12MX$19.69
-52.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.37₽103
$4.20MX$73.5
-67.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.09₽458
$14.25MX$249
-57.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.92₽69.4
$1.76MX$30.85
-47.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80₽136
$3.68MX$64.5
-51.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44₽32.74
$0.39MX$6.74
12.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.66MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.87₽140
$1.39MX$24.26
34.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.18₽13.45
$0.30MX$5.32
-40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.74₽281
$5.42MX$94.9
-31.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽56.7
$1.35MX$23.63
-44.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.0K₽3.7M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
159.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$44.5K₽3.3M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
92.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.8₽7,492
$40.82MX$714
144.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.58₽419
$27.50MX$481
-79.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.45₽409
$30.38MX$532
-82.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.28₽2,650
$53.4MX$935
-33.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.30MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.19₽314
$6.27MX$110
-33.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$89.0₽6,687
$436MX$7,632
-79.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,935₽445.8K
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-43.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₽7,579
$56.8MX$993
77.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.89₽3,597
$44.79MX$784
6.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.3₽6,780
$103MX$1,799
-12.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.2₽5,650
$108MX$1,888
-30.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$312₽23.4K
$1,000MX$17.5K
-68.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228₽17.1K
$620MX$10.9K
-63.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$569₽42.8K
$2,137MX$37.4K
-73.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$299₽22.4K
$1,235MX$21.6K
-75.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,543₽115.9K
$3,865MX$67.6K
-60.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,121₽84.2K
$2,332MX$40.8K
-51.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ulyanovsk
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$749₽56.2K
$1,067MX$18.7K
-29.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
15.33
11.34
35.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ulyanovsk: April 25, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Ulyanovsk and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 43% 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: $32.00 in Ulyanovsk vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $286 per month, with Ulyanovsk cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ulyanovsk vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ulyanovsk and Mexico City?
Ulyanovsk and Mexico City differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($839 vs $1,484 including rent). Ulyanovsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 43% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ulyanovsk and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $312 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ulyanovsk and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $89.0 in Ulyanovsk versus $436 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 Ulyanovsk – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $839 in Ulyanovsk versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ulyanovsk but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ulyanovsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ulyanovsk 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.
Where should expats move: Ulyanovsk or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Ulyanovsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.