Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Zaqatala and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $359 in Zaqatala versus $1,484 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $599 in Zaqatala versus $2,381 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $839 in Zaqatala versus $3,278 in Mexico City.

Living in Zaqatala costs roughly 76% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zaqatala is 73% below, Mexico City is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 ₼9.01

$12.98 MX$227

-59.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.91 ₼35.55

$53.1 MX$929

-60.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 ₼12.28

$9.72 MX$170

-25.72%

Cappuccino

$2.39 ₼4.06

$3.75 MX$65.6

-36.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₼1.02

$1.57 MX$27.46

-61.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₼0.93

$1.13 MX$19.76

-51.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.78 ₼3.02

$3.18 MX$55.7

-44.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 ₼4.92

$4.66 MX$81.6

-37.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 ₼1.68

$1.62 MX$28.37

-38.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.42 ₼0.72

$2.71 MX$47.36

-84.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 ₼3.71

$1.88 MX$32.89

15.96%

Eggs

$1.40 ₼2.38

$2.51 MX$43.90

-44.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.51 ₼5.97

$10.08 MX$176

-65.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 ₼4.01

$8.29 MX$145

-71.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 ₼14.37

$11.94 MX$209

-29.23%

Apples (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.23

$2.86 MX$50.1

-74.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 ₼2.03

$1.75 MX$30.62

-31.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.61 ₼1.04

$2.08 MX$36.48

-70.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.73 ₼1.23

$1.97 MX$34.46

-62.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.28 ₼0.47

$2.16 MX$37.79

-87.04%

Onion (1kg)

$0.40 ₼0.68

$2.18 MX$38.16

-81.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 ₼1.55

$1.39 MX$24.34

-34.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 ₼1.02

$1.12 MX$19.69

-46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.73 ₼2.94

$4.20 MX$73.5

-58.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.06 ₼15.40

$14.25 MX$249

-36.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 ₼1.99

$1.76 MX$30.85

-33.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ₼3.45

$3.68 MX$64.5

-44.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 ₼0.33

$0.39 MX$6.74

-48.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 ₼0.96

$1.35 MX$23.63

-58.52%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$330.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K MX$405.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.82 MX$714

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.12 ₼58.0

$53.4 MX$935

-36.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$118 ₼201

$1,000 MX$17.5K

-88.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.9 ₼143

$620 MX$10.9K

-86.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$233 ₼396

$2,137 MX$37.4K

-89.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 ₼254

$1,235 MX$21.6K

-87.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Zaqatala: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $118 in Zaqatala and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Zaqatala vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $134 vs $286 per month, with Zaqatala 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

Zaqatala vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zaqatala and Mexico City differ by about 313% in total monthly costs ($359 vs $1,484 including rent). Zaqatala is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $538 in Zaqatala and $2,225 in Mexico City 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $118 in Zaqatala versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Zaqatala – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $359 per month in Zaqatala versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 313% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $359 in Zaqatala versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Zaqatala but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zaqatala the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Zaqatala 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.

Expats usually find Zaqatala gentler on the wallet – expenses run 313% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.