😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,528 in Cham versus $1,481 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,360 in Cham versus $2,352 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $7,192 in Cham versus $3,222 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Cham is roughly 138% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cham164% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.86CHF 25.23
$13.16MX$230
134.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$147CHF 121
$53.6MX$937
175.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$19.66CHF 16.08
$9.55MX$167
105.86%
Cappuccino
$6.74CHF 5.51
$3.72MX$65.1
81.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51CHF 4.51
$1.57MX$27.42
250.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.98CHF 4.07
$1.16MX$20.22
329.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$10.05CHF 8.22
$3.18MX$55.7
216.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.68CHF 6.28
$4.63MX$81.1
65.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.83
$1.71MX$29.83
30.99%
White Bread(500g)
$3.33CHF 2.72
$2.62MX$45.77
27.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.15CHF 3.39
$1.89MX$33.04
119.58%
Eggs
$7.22CHF 5.91
$2.60MX$45.40
177.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$28.77CHF 23.52
$9.91MX$173
190.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$33.10CHF 27.07
$8.22MX$144
302.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$44.54CHF 36.42
$11.78MX$206
278.10%
Apples(1kg)
$4.02CHF 3.29
$3.00MX$52.4
34.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.72CHF 2.22
$1.80MX$31.48
51.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.98CHF 2.44
$2.07MX$36.27
43.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.05CHF 4.13
$1.97MX$34.41
156.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.87CHF 2.34
$2.07MX$36.24
38.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30CHF 1.88
$2.17MX$38.04
5.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.57CHF 2.10
$1.40MX$24.54
83.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52CHF 1.24
$1.07MX$18.80
42.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.20CHF 9.16
$4.12MX$72.0
171.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.01CHF 10.64
$17.42MX$305
-25.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CHF 1.94
$1.68MX$29.31
41.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17CHF 2.59
$3.65MX$63.8
-13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.88CHF 3.17
$0.38MX$6.65
921.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.1CHF 81.0
$18.71MX$327
429.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.77CHF 6.35
$1.33MX$23.25
484.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.15CHF 3.40
$0.30MX$5.30
1283.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$86.3CHF 70.6
$5.51MX$96.4
1466.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.25CHF 1.84
$1.31MX$22.84
71.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.1KCHF 33.6K
$19.2KMX$335.3K
114.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9KCHF 32.6K
$23.7KMX$415.4K
67.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$255CHF 209
$41.14MX$720
520.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.13CHF 28.73
$27.74MX$485
26.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.9CHF 48.16
$30.13MX$527
95.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.2CHF 70.5
$53.7MX$940
60.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$25.98MX$454
-
Cinema Ticket
$22.76CHF 18.61
$6.49MX$114
250.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,609CHF 2,133
$437MX$7,638
497.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$34.0KCHF 27.8K
$10.5KMX$182.9K
225.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$132CHF 108
$58.3MX$1,020
125.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.6CHF 49.57
$45.86MX$802
32.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$148CHF 121
$101MX$1,775
45.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$204CHF 167
$107MX$1,863
91.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,705CHF 1,394
$1,005MX$17.6K
69.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,469CHF 1,201
$634MX$11.1K
131.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,825CHF 2,310
$2,148MX$37.6K
31.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,506CHF 2,049
$1,247MX$21.8K
100.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.9KCHF 13.8K
$3,859MX$67.5K
337.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$14.1KCHF 11.5K
$2,085MX$36.5K
574.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,072MX$18.8K
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,705 in Cham and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $147 in Cham vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $646 vs $291 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 $5,293 in Cham and $2,222 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: $1,705 in Cham versus $1,005 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 $2,609 in Cham versus $437 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 122% higher in Cham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Cham or in Mexico City?
At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $3,528 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.