😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,622 in Cham versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,410 in Cham versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,198 in Cham versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Cham is roughly 116% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham163% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$31.40CHF 25.63
$12.14MX$206
158.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$126CHF 103
$53.9MX$914
133.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.26CHF 14.91
$11.09MX$188
64.65%
Cappuccino
$6.05CHF 4.94
$4.10MX$69.5
47.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.68CHF 4.63
$1.68MX$28.53
238.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79CHF 3.91
$1.39MX$23.55
244.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.40CHF 6.86
$3.33MX$56.5
152.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82CHF 5.57
$5.88MX$99.7
15.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.22CHF 1.81
$1.85MX$31.41
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$4.05CHF 3.30
$3.17MX$53.8
27.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.83CHF 3.13
$2.07MX$35.13
85.02%
Eggs
$7.36CHF 6.01
$2.93MX$49.67
151.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.93CHF 22.79
$12.59MX$214
121.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$27.68CHF 22.59
$10.11MX$172
173.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$43.42CHF 35.44
$16.09MX$273
169.86%
Apples(1kg)
$4.12CHF 3.36
$3.39MX$57.5
21.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.28CHF 1.86
$2.08MX$35.26
9.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.30CHF 2.70
$2.12MX$35.97
55.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.72CHF 3.85
$2.41MX$40.95
95.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CHF 2.06
$2.13MX$36.11
18.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27CHF 1.85
$2.01MX$34.02
12.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.56CHF 2.09
$1.55MX$26.21
65.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.20CHF 0.98
$1.36MX$23.15
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20CHF 9.14
$5.77MX$97.8
94.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.61CHF 11.11
$17.74MX$301
-23.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.87CHF 2.34
$2.07MX$35.11
38.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20CHF 2.62
$4.61MX$78.3
-30.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$5.00CHF 4.08
$0.37MX$6.21
1251.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$152CHF 124
$21.18MX$359
616.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.61CHF 4.58
$2.05MX$34.84
173.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.47CHF 2.83
$0.58MX$9.79
498.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.9CHF 50.5
$6.07MX$103
919.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28CHF 1.86
$1.55MX$26.34
47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6KCHF 33.2K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
77.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KCHF 32.6K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
46.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$288CHF 235
$67.4MX$1,144
326.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.30CHF 26.36
$30.62MX$520
5.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.2CHF 46.65
$37.24MX$632
53.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.4CHF 75.4
$61.5MX$1,043
50.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$42.34CHF 34.56
$27.12MX$460
56.12%
Cinema Ticket
$25.03CHF 20.43
$7.11MX$121
252.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,818CHF 1,484
$456MX$7,739
298.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.0KCHF 27.8K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
148.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$148CHF 121
$74.2MX$1,259
99.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.7CHF 49.56
$57.0MX$967
6.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$167CHF 136
$115MX$1,958
44.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$261CHF 213
$122MX$2,061
115.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,732CHF 1,413
$1,148MX$19.5K
50.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,469CHF 1,199
$709MX$12.0K
107.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,875CHF 2,346
$2,577MX$43.7K
11.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,682CHF 2,189
$1,295MX$22.0K
107.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$17.9KCHF 14.6K
$4,005MX$67.9K
347.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$13.6KCHF 11.1K
$2,130MX$36.1K
537.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.07
11.3
-81.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cham: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,732 in Cham and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $126 in Cham vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $616 vs $345 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 116% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $5,434 in Cham and $2,515 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: $1,732 in Cham versus $1,148 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 $1,818 in Cham versus $456 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 79% 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 $1,677 in Mexico City versus $3,622 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 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 116% less than in Cham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.