Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Islamabad and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $529 per month in Islamabad vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $835 per month in Islamabad vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,141 per month in Islamabad vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Islamabad is about 64% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Islamabad sits 61% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 PKR 779

$13.18 MX$228

-78.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.22 PKR 3,955

$53.9 MX$931

-73.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$9.42 MX$163

-42.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 PKR 478

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 PKR 1,112

Cappuccino

$2.00 PKR 557

$3.55 MX$61.3

-43.66%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.43 PKR 119

$1.62 MX$27.95

-73.46%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 PKR 61.1

$1.11 MX$19.25

-80.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$53.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.0

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 260

$1.70 MX$29.40

-44.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.62 PKR 173

$2.72 MX$46.97

-77.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 PKR 338

$1.91 MX$33.04

-36.65%

Eggs

$1.20 PKR 335

$2.54 MX$43.82

-52.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.07 PKR 1,689

$10.03 MX$173

-39.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.39 PKR 942

$8.09 MX$140

-58.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 PKR 1,218

$11.62 MX$201

-62.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 287

$2.97 MX$51.3

-65.32%

Banana (1kg)

$0.78 PKR 216

$1.81 MX$31.21

-56.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 PKR 260

$2.01 MX$34.79

-53.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 PKR 166

$2.03 MX$35.16

-70.44%

Potato (1kg)

$0.41 PKR 115

$2.12 MX$36.71

-80.66%

Onion (1kg)

$0.54 PKR 149

$2.27 MX$39.21

-76.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 PKR 93.3

$1.40 MX$24.20

-75.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 PKR 103

$1.13 MX$19.53

-67.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.93 PKR 537

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 PKR 251

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 PKR 552

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.14 PKR 596

$4.27 MX$73.8

-49.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.36

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.1

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.19 PKR 52.2

$0.38 MX$6.62

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.90 PKR 1,921

$19.18 MX$331

-64.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 PKR 238

$1.38 MX$23.77

-37.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 PKR 122

$0.28 MX$4.78

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 PKR 782

$5.45 MX$94.1

-48.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 PKR 253

$1.30 MX$22.53

-30.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K PKR 6.0M

$18.7K MX$322.9K

15.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.1K PKR 7.3M

$23.1K MX$399.7K

13.05%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$40.86 MX$706

173.47%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

$26.81 MX$463

-79.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.81 PKR 5,234

$29.96 MX$518

-37.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.19 PKR 6,174

$52.0 MX$899

-57.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.04 PKR 1,679

$26.84 MX$464

-77.50%

Cinema Ticket

$4.21 PKR 1,171

$6.30 MX$109

-33.17%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$60.3 PKR 16.8K

$436 MX$7,536

-86.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,805 PKR 780.2K

$10.4K MX$180.0K

-73.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.57 PKR 5,999

$56.7 MX$979

-61.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.63 PKR 7,686

$44.38 MX$767

-37.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.1 PKR 24.5K

$103 MX$1,779

-14.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.91 PKR 11.1K

$106 MX$1,823

-62.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$198 PKR 55.1K

$1,022 MX$17.7K

-80.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 PKR 31.1K

$631 MX$10.9K

-82.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$513 PKR 142.6K

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-76.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 PKR 82.3K

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-76.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,551 PKR 431.4K

$3,903 MX$67.4K

-60.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$657 PKR 182.9K

$2,064 MX$35.7K

-68.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$387 PKR 107.8K

$1,115 MX$19.3K

-65.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

20.2

11.34

78.13%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Islamabad: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $198 in Islamabad versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 188% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $98.0 vs $288 – making Islamabad the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Islamabad vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 177%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $794 per month in Islamabad and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Islamabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 194% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Islamabad and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $529, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Islamabad. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.