🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $913 in Zalau versus $1,226 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,404 in Zalau versus $1,858 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,895 in Zalau versus $2,490 in Oaxaca de Juarez.
🌍Living in Zalau costs roughly 26% less than in Oaxaca de Juarez, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Zalau33% lower, Oaxaca de Juarez10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.72RON 35.38
$7.16MX$123
7.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.12RON 165
$34.89MX$601
3.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.63RON 25.81
$8.72MX$150
-35.44%
Cappuccino
$2.37RON 10.85
$3.00MX$51.7
-21.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54RON 7.03
$1.64MX$28.19
-6.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30RON 5.97
$0.85MX$14.65
52.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97RON 9.03
$2.70MX$46.53
-27.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41RON 11.03
$4.15MX$71.5
-41.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41RON 6.47
$1.47MX$25.29
-4.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13RON 5.18
$3.35MX$57.8
-66.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.35RON 6.19
$1.14MX$19.58
18.42%
Eggs
$2.08RON 9.51
$1.85MX$31.87
12.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.53RON 39.07
$7.05MX$121
20.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.01RON 27.52
$6.05MX$104
-0.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.67RON 48.88
$11.92MX$205
-10.49%
Apples(1kg)
$0.93RON 4.25
$2.27MX$39.17
-59.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40RON 6.42
$1.31MX$22.49
6.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53RON 7.02
$2.10MX$36.09
-27.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.89RON 8.67
$0.60MX$10.37
215.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.68RON 3.11
$2.20MX$37.97
-69.09%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56RON 2.59
$2.09MX$36.02
-73.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64RON 2.95
$1.19MX$20.53
-46.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79RON 3.63
$1.00MX$17.19
-21.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.17RON 23.68
$4.53MX$78.1
14.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.40RON 24.76
$10.29MX$177
-47.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13RON 5.18
$1.49MX$25.63
-24.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25RON 5.74
$2.80MX$48.22
-55.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85RON 3.90
$0.57MX$9.75
49.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.91RON 105
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.85RON 3.88
$4.19MX$72.2
-79.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.93RON 4.28
$2.07MX$35.57
-55.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.13RON 37.24
$11.60MX$200
-29.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61RON 7.36
$1.47MX$25.29
9.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.9KRON 137.1K
$22.5KMX$387.0K
33.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRON 125.0K
$26.0KMX$448.2K
4.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108RON 493
$65.8MX$1,133
63.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47RON 20.49
$11.85MX$204
-62.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.77RON 31.00
$25.44MX$438
-73.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.58RON 158
$46.39MX$799
-25.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.01RON 96.2
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.56RON 25.48
$5.81MX$100
-4.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456RON 2,088
$454MX$7,825
0.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,261RON 33.3K
$20.7KMX$356.2K
-64.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.2RON 253
$49.07MX$845
12.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.04RON 142
$66.2MX$1,140
-53.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.1RON 275
$107MX$1,844
-43.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.7RON 310
$102MX$1,763
-33.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$408RON 1,869
$761MX$13.1K
-46.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$297RON 1,361
$523MX$9,005
-43.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$626RON 2,866
$1,270MX$21.9K
-50.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$479RON 2,193
$930MX$16.0K
-48.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,934RON 8,859
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,430RON 6,549
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zalau
Oaxaca de Juarez
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$645RON 2,952
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.85
10.96
-37.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zalau: September 12, 2026
Last update for Oaxaca de Juarez: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Zalau and $761 in Oaxaca de Juarez. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Zalau vs $35.00 in Oaxaca de Juarez. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $239, 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 34% 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 and in Oaxaca de Juarez?
You'd need roughly $1,369 in Zalau and $1,840 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 compared to Oaxaca de Juarez?
Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Zalau versus $761 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 in Oaxaca de Juarez?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% 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 $913 per month in Zalau versus $1,226 in Oaxaca de Juarez – a 34% 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 in Oaxaca de Juarez?
At $913 in Zalau versus $1,226 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 $913 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 34% less than in Oaxaca de Juarez. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.