😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,443 in Cham versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,403 in Cham versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,363 in Cham versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Cham is roughly 138% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham156% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.00CHF 24.78
$12.98MX$227
138.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$149CHF 119
$52.6MX$918
183.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$20.08CHF 16.05
$9.43MX$165
112.94%
Cappuccino
$6.92CHF 5.53
$3.57MX$62.3
93.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.69CHF 4.55
$1.61MX$28.02
253.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09CHF 4.07
$1.15MX$20.14
342.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.60CHF 7.67
$3.15MX$55.0
204.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.30CHF 5.84
$4.86MX$84.8
50.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.26CHF 1.80
$1.70MX$29.66
32.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.36CHF 2.69
$2.64MX$45.99
27.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.11CHF 3.29
$1.90MX$33.22
116.32%
Eggs
$7.30CHF 5.84
$2.54MX$44.35
187.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.12CHF 22.48
$10.08MX$176
178.97%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$32.90CHF 26.30
$8.29MX$145
296.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.82CHF 35.83
$11.57MX$202
287.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91CHF 3.12
$3.03MX$52.8
29.04%
Banana(1kg)
$2.76CHF 2.20
$1.71MX$29.85
61.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.11CHF 2.48
$2.05MX$35.76
51.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.07CHF 4.06
$2.06MX$35.95
146.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.79CHF 2.23
$2.06MX$36.03
35.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26CHF 1.80
$2.17MX$37.87
4.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.51CHF 2.00
$1.40MX$24.49
79.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50CHF 1.20
$1.12MX$19.58
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.88CHF 8.69
$4.29MX$74.9
153.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.60CHF 10.87
$15.41MX$269
-11.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33CHF 1.86
$1.67MX$29.23
39.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02CHF 2.41
$3.69MX$64.3
-18.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.95CHF 3.15
$0.38MX$6.66
939.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.1CHF 79.2
$19.06MX$333
419.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.68CHF 6.14
$1.38MX$24.10
456.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.35CHF 3.47
$0.28MX$4.82
1453.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$85.0CHF 67.9
$5.42MX$94.5
1467.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.30CHF 1.84
$1.28MX$22.35
79.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHF 32.4K
$19.0KMX$331.3K
113.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.7KCHF 31.0K
$23.5KMX$409.5K
65.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$254CHF 203
$41.02MX$716
519.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.17CHF 28.91
$26.92MX$470
34.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.8CHF 47.00
$29.69MX$518
98.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.3CHF 71.3
$52.3MX$913
70.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.72CHF 18.16
$6.18MX$108
267.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,568CHF 2,053
$427MX$7,454
501.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.2KCHF 27.3K
$10.7KMX$186.7K
219.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132CHF 106
$56.8MX$992
132.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.5CHF 49.95
$44.83MX$782
39.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$149CHF 119
$105MX$1,824
42.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$201CHF 160
$106MX$1,849
89.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,674CHF 1,338
$995MX$17.4K
68.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,451CHF 1,160
$621MX$10.8K
133.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,848CHF 2,277
$2,126MX$37.1K
33.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,461CHF 1,967
$1,254MX$21.9K
96.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$14.9KCHF 11.9K
$3,903MX$68.1K
281.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.9KCHF 9,482
$2,096MX$36.6K
466.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,674 in Cham and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $149 in Cham vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $645 vs $288 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 138% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,164 in Cham and $2,171 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: $1,674 in Cham versus $995 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 $2,568 in Cham versus $427 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 124% 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 $1,447 in Mexico City versus $3,443 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 138% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.