🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $778 in Crato versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,248 in Crato versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,719 in Crato versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Crato costs roughly 48% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Crato is 42% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.27R$26.28
$12.98MX$227
-59.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.70R$133
$53.1MX$929
-49.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.46R$32.23
$9.72MX$170
-33.54%
Cappuccino
$1.74R$8.66
$3.75MX$65.6
-53.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.37
$1.57MX$27.46
-31.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.08
$1.13MX$19.76
-45.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$8.90
$3.18MX$55.7
-44.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77R$13.85
$4.66MX$81.6
-40.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99R$4.94
$1.62MX$28.37
-38.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51R$7.53
$2.71MX$47.36
-44.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.14R$5.70
$1.88MX$32.89
-39.36%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.65
$2.51MX$43.90
-23.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.43R$42.09
$10.08MX$176
-16.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55R$17.69
$8.29MX$145
-57.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.12R$35.54
$11.94MX$209
-40.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05R$10.24
$2.86MX$50.1
-28.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26R$6.30
$1.75MX$30.62
-28.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$5.97
$2.08MX$36.48
-42.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$7.26
$1.97MX$34.46
-25.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15R$5.74
$2.16MX$37.79
-46.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06R$5.31
$2.18MX$38.16
-51.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.45
$1.39MX$24.34
-50.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.30
$1.12MX$19.69
-41.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.16R$10.79
$4.20MX$73.5
-48.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.96R$34.72
$14.25MX$249
-51.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22R$6.06
$1.76MX$30.85
-30.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08R$10.39
$3.68MX$64.5
-43.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.27
$0.39MX$6.74
120.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.50R$192
$18.66MX$327
106.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05R$5.26
$1.39MX$24.26
-24.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.57
$0.30MX$5.32
136.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.51R$32.47
$5.42MX$94.9
20.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.40
$1.35MX$23.63
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$104.8K
$18.9KMX$330.5K
11.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KR$136.0K
$23.2KMX$405.2K
17.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.9R$299
$40.82MX$714
46.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.71R$68.4
$27.50MX$481
-50.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.01R$94.9
$30.38MX$532
-37.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.91R$114
$53.4MX$935
-57.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.47R$107
$26.30MX$460
-18.37%
Cinema Ticket
$6.46R$32.25
$6.27MX$110
3.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$267R$1,335
$436MX$7,632
-38.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,453R$32.2K
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-38.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.07R$240
$56.8MX$993
-15.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.93R$209
$44.79MX$784
-6.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2R$380
$103MX$1,799
-25.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.4R$321
$108MX$1,888
-40.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$317R$1,580
$1,000MX$17.5K
-68.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$220R$1,099
$620MX$10.9K
-64.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576R$2,875
$2,137MX$37.4K
-73.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422R$2,105
$1,235MX$21.6K
-65.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,458R$7,274
$3,865MX$67.6K
-62.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,188R$5,930
$2,332MX$40.8K
-49.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Crato
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.34
-3.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Crato: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Crato and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27.00 in Crato vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $286 per month, with Crato 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
Crato vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Crato or Mexico City?
Crato wins on cost – living expenses run 91% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Crato the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Crato vs Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,167 in Crato and $2,225 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Crato vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $317 in Crato versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Crato vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Crato runs roughly 106% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Crato and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $267 in Crato versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Crato or Mexico City?
At $778 in Crato versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Crato but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Crato the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Crato or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Crato delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $778 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Crato hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Crato gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.