😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,493 in Hamilton versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,584 in Hamilton versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,676 in Hamilton versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Hamilton is roughly 71% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton87% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.13CA$25.41
$13.07MX$229
38.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$73.3CA$103
$53.8MX$940
36.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.98CA$15.39
$9.68MX$169
13.43%
Cappuccino
$4.05CA$5.68
$3.74MX$65.4
8.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10CA$2.94
$1.62MX$28.25
29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81CA$2.53
$1.16MX$20.31
56.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.83CA$8.17
$3.23MX$56.4
80.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58CA$9.23
$4.74MX$82.9
38.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.23CA$3.13
$1.65MX$28.80
35.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.12CA$2.98
$2.75MX$48.15
-22.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.85CA$4.00
$1.87MX$32.77
52.41%
Eggs
$3.14CA$4.40
$2.50MX$43.72
25.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.74CA$10.85
$10.20MX$178
-24.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.56CA$16.21
$8.25MX$144
40.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39CA$20.18
$11.82MX$207
21.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91CA$5.48
$3.01MX$52.6
29.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30CA$1.82
$1.81MX$31.67
-28.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55CA$4.97
$2.00MX$34.96
77.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.90CA$5.47
$2.00MX$34.89
95.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.67
$2.08MX$36.45
25.96%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19CA$3.07
$2.27MX$39.72
-3.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.21CA$3.09
$1.46MX$25.47
51.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.99CA$2.80
$1.08MX$18.82
84.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.47CA$18.88
$4.35MX$76.0
209.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.63CA$17.71
$16.99MX$297
-25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.41CA$3.38
$1.73MX$30.31
39.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07CA$4.31
$3.58MX$62.5
-14.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.62CA$3.68
$0.39MX$6.77
571.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.4CA$123
$18.69MX$327
367.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54CA$4.96
$1.33MX$23.18
166.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22CA$1.71
$0.28MX$4.89
335.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.62CA$33.12
$5.25MX$91.8
349.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14CA$1.60
$1.34MX$23.37
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KCA$35.6K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
30.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$28.6K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
-14.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$155CA$218
$40.69MX$712
281.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.11CA$56.2
$26.87MX$470
49.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2CA$71.7
$30.51MX$534
67.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.80CA$51.6
$52.8MX$923
-30.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.40CA$31.40
$26.65MX$466
-15.95%
Cinema Ticket
$11.57CA$16.22
$6.51MX$114
77.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$643CA$901
$428MX$7,485
50.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.7KCA$30.4K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
106.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.0CA$78.5
$57.3MX$1,001
-2.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.71CA$47.26
$45.50MX$796
-25.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.7CA$136
$104MX$1,819
-7.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121CA$170
$108MX$1,885
12.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,352CA$1,895
$1,003MX$17.5K
34.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268CA$1,778
$623MX$10.9K
103.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,987CA$2,785
$2,109MX$36.9K
-5.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,022CA$2,835
$1,218MX$21.3K
66.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,710CA$3,800
$3,885MX$67.9K
-30.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,749CA$3,854
$2,033MX$35.5K
35.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,871CA$4,025
$1,038MX$18.1K
176.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.62
11.34
-41.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,352 in Hamilton and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 177% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $73.0 in Hamilton vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $341 vs $292 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
Hamilton vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Hamilton?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 177% higher in Hamilton, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Hamilton and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,352 in Hamilton versus $1,003 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 $643 in Hamilton versus $428 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 Hamilton and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Hamilton or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,493 in Hamilton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamilton or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.