😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,979 in Wels versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,892 in Wels versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,806 in Wels versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Wels is roughly 35% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Wels48% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.50€15.06
$13.18MX$228
32.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9€62.7
$53.9MX$932
35.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.20€10.49
$9.42MX$163
29.51%
Cappuccino
$4.59€3.95
$3.55MX$61.4
29.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28€3.68
$1.62MX$27.98
164.20%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.63
$1.11MX$19.27
175.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.34€4.60
$3.12MX$54.0
71.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82€4.15
$4.63MX$80.1
4.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46€1.25
$1.70MX$29.43
-14.12%
White Bread(500g)
$3.06€2.64
$2.72MX$47.02
12.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.25€1.93
$1.91MX$33.07
17.80%
Eggs
$3.46€2.98
$2.54MX$43.86
36.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$25.11€21.60
$10.03MX$174
150.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.99€12.04
$8.09MX$140
72.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$21.37€18.38
$11.62MX$201
83.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.94€2.53
$2.97MX$51.3
-1.01%
Banana(1kg)
$1.84€1.58
$1.81MX$31.24
1.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58€2.22
$2.01MX$34.82
28.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.80€2.40
$2.03MX$35.20
37.93%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06€1.77
$2.12MX$36.75
-2.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$2.27MX$39.25
-26.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.79€1.54
$1.40MX$24.22
27.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.67
$1.13MX$19.55
-30.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.30€6.28
$4.27MX$73.9
70.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.24€7.95
$15.56MX$269
-40.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.72
$1.76MX$30.39
-52.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66€1.43
$3.60MX$62.2
-53.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74€2.36
$0.38MX$6.62
621.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$28.74€24.72
$19.18MX$332
49.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.77€5.82
$1.38MX$23.79
390.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.14€1.84
$0.28MX$4.78
664.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.77€29.91
$5.45MX$94.2
537.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.71€1.47
$1.30MX$22.55
31.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K€25.2K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
56.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8K€30.8K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
54.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$362€312
$40.86MX$707
786.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.62€19.46
$26.81MX$464
-15.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.13€29.36
$29.96MX$518
13.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.47€34.81
$52.0MX$900
-22.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.47€29.65
$26.84MX$464
28.43%
Cinema Ticket
$14.04€12.07
$6.30MX$109
122.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$912€785
$436MX$7,544
109.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,327€6,303
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-29.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132€114
$56.7MX$980
133.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.4€43.38
$44.38MX$768
13.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121€104
$103MX$1,780
17.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139€120
$106MX$1,825
31.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$685€589
$1,022MX$17.7K
-33.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$575€495
$631MX$10.9K
-8.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,156€995
$2,136MX$36.9K
-45.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$815€701
$1,243MX$21.5K
-34.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Wels
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,186€2,741
$1,115MX$19.3K
185.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
11.34
-73.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Wels: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $685 in Wels and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Wels pays 186% 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: $73.0 in Wels vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $380 vs $288 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
Wels vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Wels and Mexico City?
Wels and Mexico City differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($1,979 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Wels or Mexico City?
Wels pays 186% 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 Wels and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $685 in Wels versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Wels and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 50% less than in Wels. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Wels and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $912 in Wels versus $436 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,979 in Wels, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Wels. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Wels 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 Wels or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Wels 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: Wels or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Wels. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.