🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $958 in Zalau versus $1,046 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Zalau versus $1,630 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,925 in Zalau versus $2,214 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🙂Living in Zalau costs roughly 8% less than in Oaxaca de Juarez, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Zalau29% lower, Oaxaca de Juarez22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.12RON 36.74
$5.92MX$102
37.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.00RON 154
$26.52MX$455
28.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.69RON 25.72
$8.07MX$139
-29.49%
Cappuccino
$2.08RON 9.41
$2.57MX$44.15
-19.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07RON 9.37
$1.18MX$20.32
75.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73RON 7.85
$0.73MX$12.60
136.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78RON 12.60
$2.21MX$37.85
25.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80RON 12.64
$3.51MX$60.3
-20.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51RON 6.84
$1.30MX$22.26
16.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25RON 5.67
$2.74MX$47.02
-54.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35RON 6.13
$1.07MX$18.37
26.17%
Eggs
$2.23RON 10.07
$1.60MX$27.52
39.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.88RON 35.63
$6.23MX$107
26.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.18RON 27.97
$4.63MX$79.4
33.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.59RON 38.84
$11.14MX$191
-22.89%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96RON 4.36
$2.15MX$36.90
-55.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52RON 6.89
$1.19MX$20.42
27.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58RON 7.17
$1.69MX$29.03
-6.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.14RON 9.67
$0.55MX$9.49
289.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67RON 3.04
$2.18MX$37.41
-69.27%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71RON 3.20
$1.87MX$32.10
-62.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66RON 2.99
$1.08MX$18.49
-38.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91RON 4.13
$0.78MX$13.36
16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52RON 24.95
$4.08MX$70.1
35.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.35RON 24.22
$9.88MX$170
-45.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04RON 4.68
$1.31MX$22.40
-20.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.88
$2.79MX$47.91
-53.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94RON 4.25
$0.55MX$9.38
70.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.41RON 87.8
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.97RON 4.37
$2.64MX$45.28
-63.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.79RON 3.57
$2.50MX$42.83
-68.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.12RON 41.26
$10.66MX$183
-14.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.60RON 7.22
$1.28MX$21.96
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRON 125.1K
$22.8KMX$390.8K
21.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KRON 121.4K
$24.5KMX$420.4K
9.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$143RON 645
$66.2MX$1,137
115.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.54RON 20.53
$10.61MX$182
-57.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.11RON 32.16
$23.32MX$400
-69.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$35.50RON 161
$31.32MX$538
13.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.54RON 88.4
$16.18MX$278
20.77%
Cinema Ticket
$5.64RON 25.51
$5.20MX$89.3
8.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423RON 1,912
$364MX$6,245
16.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,962RON 31.5K
$3,530MX$60.6K
97.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1RON 258
$38.31MX$658
49.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.03RON 172
$58.7MX$1,007
-35.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.4RON 282
$67.1MX$1,152
-7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.6RON 310
$99.4MX$1,706
-31.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$395RON 1,788
$590MX$10.1K
-32.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$294RON 1,329
$431MX$7,390
-31.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598RON 2,703
$1,040MX$17.9K
-42.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$432RON 1,956
$849MX$14.6K
-49.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,961RON 8,872
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,385RON 6,265
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$649RON 2,936
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.5
11.25
-42.22%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zalau: June 8, 2026
Last update for Oaxaca de Juarez: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $395 in Zalau and $590 in Oaxaca de Juarez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $34.00 in Zalau vs $27.00 in Oaxaca de Juarez. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $210, with Zalau 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
Zalau vs Oaxaca de Juarez: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Zalau or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Zalau wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Oaxaca de Juarez. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zalau the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Zalau vs Oaxaca de Juarez?
You'd need roughly $1,437 in Zalau and $1,568 in Oaxaca de Juarez to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Zalau vs Oaxaca de Juarez?
Rent for a central apartment: $395 in Zalau versus $590 in Oaxaca de Juarez. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Zalau or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% higher in Oaxaca de Juarez. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Zalau compared to Oaxaca de Juarez?
All in, you'll spend $958 per month in Zalau versus $1,046 in Oaxaca de Juarez – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Zalau or Oaxaca de Juarez?
At $958 in Zalau versus $1,046 in Oaxaca de Juarez, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zalau but tight or insufficient in Oaxaca de Juarez. The gap between the two cities makes Zalau the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Zalau or Oaxaca de Juarez?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zalau delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $958 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zalau hard to pass up.
How safe is Zalau compared to Oaxaca de Juarez?
Safety-wise, Zalau and Oaxaca de Juarez are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zalau gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Oaxaca de Juarez. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.