😐A single person spends $2,363 per month in Karratha vs $1,481 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,422 per month in Karratha vs $2,352 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,482 per month in Karratha vs $3,222 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Karratha costs about 60% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Karratha and Mexico City sit above the global median – Karratha by 77%, Mexico City by 11%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.01A$40.11
$13.16MX$230
112.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.6A$112
$53.6MX$937
46.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.84A$12.66
$9.55MX$167
-7.43%
Cappuccino
$3.62A$5.19
$3.72MX$65.1
-2.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99A$4.28
$1.57MX$27.42
90.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25A$3.23
$1.16MX$20.22
93.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.60A$9.45
$3.18MX$55.7
107.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.91A$9.90
$4.63MX$81.1
49.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44A$2.06
$1.71MX$29.83
-15.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.37A$3.39
$2.62MX$45.77
-9.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97A$2.82
$1.89MX$33.04
4.23%
Eggs
$4.43A$6.34
$2.60MX$45.40
70.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.66A$12.40
$9.91MX$173
-12.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.52A$12.20
$8.22MX$144
3.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.45A$19.26
$11.78MX$206
14.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29A$4.71
$3.00MX$52.4
9.67%
Banana(1kg)
$2.77A$3.97
$1.80MX$31.48
53.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.90A$4.15
$2.07MX$36.27
40.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.14A$5.93
$1.97MX$34.41
110.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.41A$3.45
$2.07MX$36.24
16.43%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17A$3.11
$2.17MX$38.04
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17A$3.10
$1.40MX$24.54
55.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.58A$2.26
$1.07MX$18.80
47.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.34A$44.88
$4.12MX$72.0
660.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.40A$19.18
$17.42MX$305
-23.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.60A$6.58
$1.68MX$29.31
173.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.45A$7.81
$3.65MX$63.8
49.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.54A$3.64
$0.38MX$6.65
568.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.7A$94.1
$18.71MX$327
251.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67A$5.25
$1.33MX$23.25
175.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.59A$2.28
$0.30MX$5.30
430.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.34A$47.74
$5.51MX$96.4
505.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18A$1.69
$1.31MX$22.84
-9.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.9KA$41.4K
$19.2KMX$335.3K
50.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KA$31.7K
$23.7KMX$415.4K
-6.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$182A$261
$41.14MX$720
342.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15A$38.88
$27.74MX$485
-2.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8A$74.2
$30.13MX$527
71.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.09A$68.9
$53.7MX$940
-10.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.64A$22.39
$25.98MX$454
-39.80%
Cinema Ticket
$12.89A$18.45
$6.49MX$114
98.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,629A$2,332
$437MX$7,638
272.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9KA$17.0K
$10.5KMX$182.9K
13.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9A$98.6
$58.3MX$1,020
18.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3A$73.5
$45.86MX$802
11.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.8A$143
$101MX$1,775
-1.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$154
$107MX$1,863
1.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,282A$1,835
$1,005MX$17.6K
27.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048A$1,500
$634MX$11.1K
65.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,012A$2,881
$2,148MX$37.6K
-6.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,691A$2,421
$1,247MX$21.8K
35.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,518A$9,334
$3,859MX$67.5K
68.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,812A$8,323
$2,085MX$36.5K
178.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karratha
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,072MX$18.8K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.34
-44.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karratha: July 22, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,282 in Karratha versus $1,005 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $79.0 in Karratha versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $338 vs $291 – making Mexico City 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
Karratha vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Karratha and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,363 in Karratha, $1,481 in Mexico City – roughly 60% apart. Karratha costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Karratha compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,544 per month in Karratha and $2,222 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Karratha and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Karratha or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,363 in Karratha and $1,481 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Karratha and in Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 251% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,481, than in Karratha at $2,363. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Karratha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Karratha and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,481 in Mexico City to $2,363 in Karratha. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Karratha or Mexico City safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Karratha and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Karratha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.