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 $593 per month in Islamabad vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $929 per month in Islamabad vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,264 per month in Islamabad vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

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

Islamabad sits 57% below the global median, while Mexico City is 21% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 PKR 985

$11.92 MX$204

-70.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$23.22 PKR 6,431

$51.6 MX$885

-55.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.44 PKR 1,507

$11.41 MX$196

-52.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.71 PKR 1,027

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.73 PKR 1,866

Cappuccino

$2.51 PKR 694

$3.99 MX$68.5

-37.09%

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

$0.33 PKR 90.1

$1.66 MX$28.45

-80.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.21 PKR 58.2

$1.33 MX$22.74

-84.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$101

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 PKR 261

$1.88 MX$32.18

-50.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 PKR 209

$3.25 MX$55.8

-76.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 347

$2.16 MX$37.05

-42.13%

Eggs

$1.21 PKR 335

$2.90 MX$49.66

-58.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 PKR 1,679

$12.86 MX$220

-52.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.20 PKR 886

$10.05 MX$172

-68.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.46 PKR 1,512

$15.86 MX$272

-65.57%

Apples (1kg)

$1.25 PKR 346

$3.29 MX$56.5

-62.01%

Banana (1kg)

$0.81 PKR 224

$2.01 MX$34.40

-59.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.03 PKR 286

$2.20 MX$37.71

-53.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 PKR 145

$2.36 MX$40.40

-77.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.26 PKR 71.2

$2.05 MX$35.23

-87.32%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 PKR 90.7

$1.90 MX$32.60

-82.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 PKR 83.6

$1.61 MX$27.52

-81.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 PKR 118

$1.40 MX$23.95

-70.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.01 PKR 556

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.24 PKR 343

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 PKR 719

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.32 PKR 641

$5.46 MX$93.7

-57.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.24

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.20 PKR 55.7

$0.34 MX$5.80

-41.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.86 PKR 6,057

$20.81 MX$357

5.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.29 PKR 358

$2.10 MX$35.95

-38.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.74 PKR 205

$0.56 MX$9.59

32.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 PKR 445

$5.81 MX$99.7

-72.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.25 PKR 348

$1.61 MX$27.53

-22.36%

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

$54.2K PKR 15.0M

$22.8K MX$391.6K

137.29%

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

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

$26.8K MX$458.6K

-8.05%

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

$104 PKR 28.9K

$65.2 MX$1,117

60.22%

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

$5.88 PKR 1,628

$30.09 MX$516

-80.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.18 PKR 4,481

$37.18 MX$637

-56.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.70 PKR 7,951

$59.8 MX$1,024

-51.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.46 PKR 2,345

$26.55 MX$455

-68.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.37 PKR 1,210

$7.04 MX$121

-37.93%

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

$74.9 PKR 20.8K

$465 MX$7,967

-83.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

$13.3K MX$227.6K

-61.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.08 PKR 6,947

$75.9 MX$1,301

-66.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.11 PKR 9,727

$56.0 MX$959

-37.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 PKR 27.0K

$112 MX$1,918

-12.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.92 PKR 11.1K

$121 MX$2,066

-66.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$278 PKR 77.0K

$1,103 MX$18.9K

-74.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 PKR 38.3K

$721 MX$12.4K

-80.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 PKR 163.5K

$2,530 MX$43.4K

-76.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 PKR 76.8K

$1,293 MX$22.2K

-78.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 PKR 450.1K

$3,991 MX$68.4K

-59.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 PKR 226.1K

$2,090 MX$35.8K

-60.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$379 PKR 104.9K

$1,037 MX$17.8K

-63.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.08

11.3

15.75%

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

Last update for Islamabad: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Islamabad versus $1,103 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 174% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $103 vs $345 – 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 180%, 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 $890 per month in Islamabad and $2,489 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 235% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad and $52.0 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 $593, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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.