😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,321 in Hamilton versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,399 in Hamilton versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,477 in Hamilton versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Hamilton is roughly 41% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamilton69% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.38CA$25.54
$12.11MX$206
51.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.1CA$94.7
$52.2MX$887
30.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.51CA$17.38
$10.90MX$185
14.77%
Cappuccino
$3.56CA$4.94
$4.05MX$68.9
-12.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20CA$3.06
$1.72MX$29.15
27.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74CA$2.42
$1.38MX$23.41
26.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.18CA$7.20
$3.47MX$58.9
49.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.50CA$9.04
$5.81MX$98.8
11.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.05CA$2.85
$1.85MX$31.50
10.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22CA$3.09
$3.22MX$54.8
-31.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.84CA$3.94
$2.09MX$35.44
35.89%
Eggs
$3.44CA$4.78
$2.91MX$49.44
18.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.57CA$10.52
$12.49MX$212
-39.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.40CA$14.46
$10.11MX$172
2.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.04CA$19.52
$15.89MX$270
-11.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91CA$5.44
$3.31MX$56.3
18.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28CA$1.78
$2.13MX$36.14
-39.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.27CA$5.93
$2.19MX$37.22
94.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.92CA$5.45
$2.45MX$41.59
60.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.64CA$3.66
$2.19MX$37.20
20.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75CA$2.43
$1.90MX$32.37
-7.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.34CA$3.26
$1.62MX$27.45
44.44%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.03
$1.35MX$22.94
8.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.22CA$19.76
$5.43MX$92.2
161.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.06CA$18.15
$17.59MX$299
-25.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38CA$3.31
$2.07MX$35.14
14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19CA$5.82
$4.75MX$80.7
-11.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.74CA$3.81
$0.34MX$5.78
705.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$87.7CA$122
$21.58MX$367
306.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.86
$2.04MX$34.67
71.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33CA$1.85
$0.58MX$9.82
129.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$23.47CA$32.62
$5.97MX$101
293.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19CA$1.65
$1.62MX$27.46
-26.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KCA$40.2K
$22.8KMX$387.6K
26.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$27.9K
$26.7KMX$453.1K
-24.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$151CA$209
$65.2MX$1,109
130.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$40.12CA$55.8
$29.87MX$508
34.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.2CA$71.1
$36.55MX$621
39.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.62CA$52.3
$61.0MX$1,037
-38.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.56CA$29.96
$26.70MX$454
-19.25%
Cinema Ticket
$10.27CA$14.27
$6.85MX$116
49.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$615CA$855
$453MX$7,705
35.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.6KCA$23.1K
$13.4KMX$227.2K
24.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.2CA$69.8
$75.0MX$1,274
-33.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.50CA$47.94
$55.3MX$940
-37.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9CA$128
$114MX$1,931
-19.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121CA$168
$123MX$2,084
-1.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,320CA$1,834
$1,134MX$19.3K
16.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,211CA$1,683
$712MX$12.1K
70.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,063CA$2,867
$2,571MX$43.7K
-19.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,928CA$2,680
$1,311MX$22.3K
47.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,814CA$3,910
$3,993MX$67.8K
-29.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,808CA$3,902
$2,095MX$35.6K
34.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamilton
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,912CA$4,047
$1,047MX$17.8K
178.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.6
11.3
-59.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,320 in Hamilton and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamilton pays 178% 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: $68.0 in Hamilton vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $333 vs $345, with Hamilton cheaper for home cooking.
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 Eating Out, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Hamilton or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 178% 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: $1,320 in Hamilton versus $1,134 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 $615 in Hamilton versus $453 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?
Shoppers in Hamilton pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Hamilton or in Mexico City?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,321 in Hamilton, a $3,000 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 41% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.