Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Cerro de Pasco and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $843 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,156 per month in Cerro de Pasco vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Cerro de Pasco is about 64% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Cerro de Pasco sits 60% below the global median, while Mexico City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.73 PEN 9.25
$13.07 MX$229
-79.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.00 PEN 95.0
$53.8 MX$943
-47.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.01 PEN 23.79
$9.68 MX$170
-27.58%
Cappuccino
$1.98 PEN 6.72
$3.74 MX$65.6
-47.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71 PEN 2.42
$1.62 MX$28.34
-56.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 PEN 1.48
$1.16 MX$20.37
-62.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.23 PEN 7.58
$3.23 MX$56.6
-30.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80 PEN 12.90
$4.74 MX$83.1
-19.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 PEN 4.81
$1.65 MX$28.89
-13.94%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 PEN 7.66
$2.75 MX$48.30
-17.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.20 PEN 4.09
$1.87 MX$32.87
-35.83%
Eggs
$2.28 PEN 7.73
$2.50 MX$43.86
-8.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.09 PEN 27.44
$10.20 MX$179
-20.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.72 PEN 19.39
$8.25 MX$145
-30.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.84 PEN 26.58
$11.82 MX$207
-33.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 PEN 6.91
$3.01 MX$52.8
-32.23%
Banana (1kg)
$0.70 PEN 2.38
$1.81 MX$31.77
-61.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.40 PEN 1.36
$2.00 MX$35.07
-80.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.14 PEN 3.87
$2.00 MX$35.00
-43.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 PEN 2.42
$2.08 MX$36.56
-65.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 PEN 1.77
$2.27 MX$39.85
-77.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 PEN 3.01
$1.46 MX$25.55
-39.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 PEN 2.74
$1.08 MX$18.88
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.70 PEN 19.34
$4.35 MX$76.3
31.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.35 PEN 24.93
$16.99 MX$298
-56.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 PEN 5.72
$1.73 MX$30.40
-2.31%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52 PEN 8.57
$3.58 MX$62.7
-29.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.39 MX$6.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.69 MX$328
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 PEN 11.12
$1.33 MX$23.25
146.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 PEN 7.48
$0.28 MX$4.91
689.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.49 PEN 28.79
$5.25 MX$92.1
61.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.37 PEN 4.64
$1.34 MX$23.44
2.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K PEN 67.1K
$19.4K MX$340.5K
1.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.2K PEN 82.1K
$23.8K MX$418.0K
1.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.1 PEN 190
$40.69 MX$714
37.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.48 PEN 42.33
$26.87 MX$471
-53.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.99 PEN 81.4
$30.51 MX$535
-21.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$52.8 MX$926
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65 MX$467
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.86 PEN 23.28
$6.51 MX$114
5.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$214 PEN 728
$428 MX$7,508
-49.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,047 PEN 27.3K
$10.5K MX$184.2K
-23.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.42 PEN 168
$57.3 MX$1,004
-13.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.25 PEN 123
$45.50 MX$798
-20.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.8 PEN 301
$104 MX$1,825
-14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.1 PEN 309
$108 MX$1,891
-15.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,003 MX$17.6K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$623 MX$10.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 PEN 1,297
$2,109 MX$37.0K
-81.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,218 MX$21.4K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,885 MX$68.1K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,033 MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cerro de Pasco
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$467 PEN 1,584
$1,038 MX$18.2K
-55.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.11
11.34
-10.85%

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

Last update for Cerro de Pasco: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 122% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $292 – making Cerro de Pasco the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Cerro de Pasco vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Cerro de Pasco?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 175%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Cerro de Pasco and $2,185 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Cerro de Pasco or in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Cerro de Pasco and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Cerro de Pasco and in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 51% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cerro de Pasco or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cerro de Pasco, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Cerro de Pasco it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cerro de Pasco or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cerro de Pasco – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cerro de Pasco. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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