😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,510 in Cham versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,437 in Cham versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,364 in Cham versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Cham is roughly 139% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham162% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.40CHF 23.83
$13.30MX$231
128.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$151CHF 118
$53.8MX$932
179.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.86CHF 15.57
$9.42MX$163
110.83%
Cappuccino
$6.84CHF 5.36
$3.59MX$62.3
90.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57CHF 4.37
$1.62MX$28.13
243.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.22CHF 4.09
$1.12MX$19.49
366.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.09CHF 7.91
$3.25MX$56.3
210.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.45CHF 5.84
$4.65MX$80.6
60.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.74
$1.64MX$28.37
35.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.26CHF 2.56
$2.65MX$46.00
23.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08CHF 3.20
$1.96MX$33.99
108.16%
Eggs
$7.22CHF 5.66
$2.54MX$44.08
184.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.15CHF 22.07
$9.97MX$173
182.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.89CHF 26.57
$8.39MX$145
303.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.75CHF 35.08
$11.83MX$205
278.28%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82CHF 2.99
$2.86MX$49.62
33.57%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65CHF 2.08
$1.73MX$30.05
53.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02CHF 2.36
$1.99MX$34.50
51.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.23CHF 4.10
$2.05MX$35.51
155.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.73CHF 2.14
$2.06MX$35.64
32.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.78
$2.28MX$39.54
-0.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.49CHF 1.95
$1.45MX$25.05
71.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.56CHF 1.22
$1.09MX$18.83
43.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.94CHF 8.58
$4.27MX$73.9
156.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.44CHF 12.10
$14.67MX$254
5.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46CHF 1.93
$1.76MX$30.58
39.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02CHF 2.37
$3.57MX$61.8
-15.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.82CHF 2.99
$0.38MX$6.67
905.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$98.6CHF 77.3
$18.73MX$325
426.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.57CHF 5.94
$1.39MX$24.09
444.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.11CHF 3.22
$0.30MX$5.26
1270.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$87.2CHF 68.3
$5.41MX$93.8
1511.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.34CHF 1.84
$1.34MX$23.22
74.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6KCHF 31.1K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
110.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KCHF 30.4K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
66.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$258CHF 202
$40.30MX$698
539.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.19CHF 28.37
$27.15MX$471
33.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4CHF 46.55
$29.46MX$510
101.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.5CHF 69.4
$52.7MX$914
67.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.17MX$454
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.34CHF 17.52
$6.18MX$107
261.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,563CHF 2,009
$441MX$7,637
481.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.6KCHF 27.2K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
223.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132CHF 104
$57.2MX$992
131.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.4CHF 48.12
$45.04MX$781
36.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148CHF 116
$103MX$1,793
43.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$199CHF 156
$109MX$1,884
83.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,671CHF 1,310
$1,000MX$17.3K
67.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,459CHF 1,144
$632MX$11.0K
130.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,857CHF 2,240
$2,141MX$37.1K
33.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,503CHF 1,962
$1,253MX$21.7K
99.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.1KCHF 9,524
$3,745MX$64.9K
224.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.0KCHF 9,428
$2,381MX$41.3K
405.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.09
11.34
-81.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cham: April 22, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,671 in Cham and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $151 in Cham vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $652 vs $286 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
Cham vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Cham?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 139% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,266 in Cham and $2,199 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.
What is the rent difference between Cham and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,671 in Cham versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $2,563 in Cham versus $441 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Cham and Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 128% higher in Cham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Cham or Mexico City?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $3,510 in Cham, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Cham. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cham or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cham or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Cham 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 139% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.