Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cham and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $3,575 in Cham, rent and utilities included – about $23,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Cham, Switzerland
Mexico City, Mexico
Cham
🇨🇭 Switzerland
$3,575
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cham and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cham and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,575 in Cham versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Cham $3,575
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,453 in Cham versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Cham $5,453
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,331 in Cham versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Cham $7,331
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Cham is roughly 122% more expensive than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham 163% above, Mexico City 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$29.74 CHF 24.67
$10.62 MX$198
180.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122 CHF 101
$48.35 MX$901
151.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$17.93 CHF 14.87
$10.35 MX$193
73.24%
Cappuccino
$5.82 CHF 4.83
$3.69 MX$68.8
57.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.32 CHF 4.42
$1.67 MX$31.07
218.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 CHF 4.04
$1.27 MX$23.59
283.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.45 CHF 7.01
$3.19 MX$59.5
164.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.53 CHF 5.42
$5.31 MX$98.9
22.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.13 CHF 1.76
$1.72 MX$32.15
23.84%
White Bread (500g)
$3.76 CHF 3.12
$3.04 MX$56.7
23.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.62 CHF 3.00
$1.94 MX$36.19
86.60%
Eggs
$7.27 CHF 6.03
$2.89 MX$53.8
151.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$26.38 CHF 21.88
$10.97 MX$205
140.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$28.65 CHF 23.77
$9.25 MX$172
209.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$42.06 CHF 34.89
$15.13 MX$282
177.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 CHF 3.25
$3.05 MX$56.8
28.20%
Banana (1kg)
$2.15 CHF 1.78
$1.94 MX$36.19
10.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 CHF 2.57
$2.03 MX$37.75
52.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.58 CHF 3.80
$2.31 MX$43.15
98.27%
Potato (1kg)
$2.25 CHF 1.87
$2.04 MX$37.94
10.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.24 CHF 1.86
$1.80 MX$33.55
24.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.39 CHF 1.98
$1.48 MX$27.58
61.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 CHF 0.92
$1.27 MX$23.63
-12.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$11.02 CHF 9.15
$5.30 MX$98.9
107.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.08 CHF 10.02
$16.10 MX$300
-24.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.82 CHF 2.34
$1.98 MX$36.97
42.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10 CHF 2.58
$4.25 MX$79.3
-27.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$5.13 CHF 4.26
$0.31 MX$5.69
1554.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$146 CHF 121
$19.73 MX$368
640.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.44 CHF 3.69
$1.84 MX$34.25
141.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.96 CHF 2.45
$0.53 MX$9.94
458.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$59.7 CHF 49.49
$5.30 MX$98.7
1025.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.19 CHF 1.82
$1.51 MX$28.16
45.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K CHF 32.9K
$21.8K MX$405.5K
82.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9K CHF 33.1K
$24.0K MX$447.1K
66.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$286 CHF 237
$63.0 MX$1,174
354.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.15 CHF 24.18
$27.39 MX$511
6.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.8 CHF 45.49
$35.67 MX$665
53.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.3 CHF 70.7
$58.9 MX$1,099
44.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.01 CHF 33.19
$23.64 MX$441
69.25%
Cinema Ticket
$22.10 CHF 18.34
$6.40 MX$119
245.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,488 CHF 1,234
$432 MX$8,045
244.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$24.7K CHF 20.5K
$11.4K MX$212.9K
116.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$137 CHF 114
$68.2 MX$1,272
100.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.0 CHF 44.76
$53.1 MX$990
1.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$157 CHF 130
$108 MX$2,009
45.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$249 CHF 206
$117 MX$2,186
111.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,780 CHF 1,477
$1,113 MX$20.8K
59.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,566 CHF 1,299
$710 MX$13.2K
120.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,896 CHF 2,402
$2,588 MX$48.2K
11.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,704 CHF 2,243
$1,406 MX$26.2K
92.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$13.0K CHF 10.8K
$3,631 MX$67.7K
258.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$11.7K CHF 9,730
$2,135 MX$39.8K
449.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$946 MX$17.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.03
11.35
-82.11%

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

Last update for Cham: October 24, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cham
$1.6K
Mexico City
$710 54.6% $856
Groceries & Markets
Cham
$597
Mexico City
$320 46.5% $278
Eating Out
Cham
$458
Mexico City
$199 56.6% $259
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
$370
Mexico City
$126 65.9% $244
Clothing & Footwear
Cham
$268
Mexico City
$156 41.9% $113
Getting Around
Cham
$186
Mexico City
$25 86.3% $160
Sport & Entertainment
Cham
$129
Mexico City
$72 44.6% $58

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,780 in Cham and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $122 in Cham vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $597 vs $320 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇭 Cham
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
14:01 2:01 PM
07:01 7:01 AM
7 h behind Cham
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
17,060
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CHF – Swiss Franc Converter

Swiss Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 0.83 CHF (1 CHF = 1.21 USD). 1 EUR = 0.923 CHF (1 CHF = 1.08 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cham Mexico City 9,690 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cham
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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, eating out, and transport. The 122% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You’d need roughly $5,362 in Cham and $2,412 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: $1,780 in Cham versus $1,113 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 $1,488 in Cham versus $432 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 in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Cham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Cham or in Mexico City?
At $1,608 in Mexico City versus $3,575 in Cham, a $3,000 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 it better to live in Cham or in Mexico City?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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