๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,337 in Vienna versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,519 in Vienna versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,701 in Vienna versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Vienna is roughly 59% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Vienna74% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58โฌ14.99
$13.30MX$231
32.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$85.3โฌ72.8
$53.8MX$932
58.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41โฌ9.73
$9.42MX$163
21.13%
Cappuccino
$5.06โฌ4.32
$3.59MX$62.3
40.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.55โฌ3.03
$1.62MX$28.13
119.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07โฌ2.62
$1.12MX$19.49
174.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.70โฌ4.86
$3.25MX$56.3
75.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06โฌ4.31
$4.65MX$80.6
8.82%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74โฌ1.48
$1.64MX$28.37
6.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.78โฌ2.37
$2.65MX$46.00
4.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.74โฌ2.34
$1.96MX$33.99
39.80%
Eggs
$4.46โฌ3.81
$2.54MX$44.08
75.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.04โฌ14.53
$9.97MX$173
70.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.98โฌ12.78
$8.39MX$145
78.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$23.74โฌ20.25
$11.83MX$205
100.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97โฌ2.53
$2.86MX$49.62
3.85%
Banana(1kg)
$2.39โฌ2.04
$1.73MX$30.05
38.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.50โฌ2.99
$1.99MX$34.50
75.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.17โฌ3.56
$2.05MX$35.51
103.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.17โฌ1.85
$2.06MX$35.64
5.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.08โฌ1.77
$2.28MX$39.54
-8.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.96โฌ1.67
$1.45MX$25.05
35.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86โฌ0.73
$1.09MX$18.83
-21.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.70โฌ6.57
$4.27MX$73.9
80.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.34โฌ7.11
$14.67MX$254
-43.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.41โฌ1.20
$1.76MX$30.58
-19.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02โฌ1.72
$3.57MX$61.8
-43.42%
๐ Getting Around
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.70โฌ2.30
$0.38MX$6.67
610.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.74โฌ33.90
$18.73MX$325
112.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.74โฌ4.04
$1.39MX$24.09
241.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.06โฌ1.76
$0.30MX$5.26
586.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.90โฌ33.18
$5.41MX$93.8
619.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.91โฌ1.63
$1.34MX$23.22
42.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.5Kโฌ26.9K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
67.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0Kโฌ28.1K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
42.05%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$329โฌ280
$40.30MX$698
715.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.94โฌ14.45
$27.15MX$471
-37.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.09โฌ34.20
$29.46MX$510
36.08%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.17โฌ41.09
$52.7MX$914
-8.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.89โฌ22.08
$26.17MX$454
-1.07%
Cinema Ticket
$13.86โฌ11.82
$6.18MX$107
124.27%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$329โฌ280
$441MX$7,637
-25.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$23.2Kโฌ19.8K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
116.60%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101โฌ86.0
$57.2MX$992
76.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.92โฌ38.32
$45.04MX$781
-0.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101โฌ86.0
$103MX$1,793
-2.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159โฌ136
$109MX$1,884
46.42%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,235โฌ1,053
$1,000MX$17.3K
23.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876โฌ747
$632MX$11.0K
38.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,278โฌ1,943
$2,141MX$37.1K
6.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,668โฌ1,423
$1,253MX$21.7K
33.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$13.9Kโฌ11.9K
$3,745MX$64.9K
272.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,419โฌ5,476
$2,381MX$41.3K
169.61%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Vienna
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,582โฌ3,055
$1,079MX$18.7K
231.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.6
11.34
-68.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Vienna: April 22, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,235 in Vienna and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐVienna pays 232% 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: $85 in Vienna vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $392 vs $286 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
Vienna vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vienna and Mexico City?
Vienna and Mexico City differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($2,337 vs $1,466 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: Vienna or Mexico City?
Vienna pays 232% 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 Vienna and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,235 in Vienna versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Vienna and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 112% less than in Vienna. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Vienna and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $329 in Vienna versus $441 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 $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,337 in Vienna, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Vienna. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Vienna 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 Vienna or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Vienna 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: Vienna or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 59% less than in Vienna. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.