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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,447 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Kaลกtela versus $2,310 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,908 in Kaลกtela versus $3,174 in Mexico City.

Living in Kaลกtela costs roughly 6% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kaลกtela 1% above, Mexico City 8% above.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.04 โ‚ฌ13.82
$12.98 MX$223
23.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8 โ‚ฌ69.6
$52.6 MX$903
53.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.12 โ‚ฌ7.86
$9.43 MX$162
-3.29%
Cappuccino
$2.89 โ‚ฌ2.49
$3.57 MX$61.3
-19.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 โ‚ฌ2.93
$1.61 MX$27.55
111.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 โ‚ฌ2.18
$1.15 MX$19.81
120.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 โ‚ฌ3.89
$3.15 MX$54.0
43.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81 โ‚ฌ3.28
$4.86 MX$83.4
-21.60%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 โ‚ฌ1.19
$1.70 MX$29.17
-18.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.57 โ‚ฌ1.36
$2.64 MX$45.23
-40.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.12 โ‚ฌ2.69
$1.90 MX$32.67
64.21%
Eggs
$3.92 โ‚ฌ3.38
$2.54 MX$43.62
54.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.05 โ‚ฌ8.66
$10.08 MX$173
-0.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.40 โ‚ฌ8.10
$8.29 MX$142
13.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.85 โ‚ฌ11.07
$11.57 MX$199
11.06%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$3.03 MX$52.0
-40.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 โ‚ฌ1.46
$1.71 MX$29.35
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.16 โ‚ฌ1.86
$2.05 MX$35.16
5.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.27 โ‚ฌ1.96
$2.06 MX$35.36
10.19%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 โ‚ฌ1.32
$2.06 MX$35.43
-25.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 โ‚ฌ1.20
$2.17 MX$37.25
-35.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 โ‚ฌ1.17
$1.40 MX$24.08
-2.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 โ‚ฌ1.08
$1.12 MX$19.26
11.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85 โ‚ฌ5.04
$4.29 MX$73.7
36.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.51 โ‚ฌ6.47
$15.41 MX$265
-51.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34 โ‚ฌ1.15
$1.67 MX$28.74
-19.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 โ‚ฌ0.97
$3.69 MX$63.3
-69.38%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.36 โ‚ฌ2.03
$0.38 MX$6.55
521.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.44 โ‚ฌ32.26
$19.06 MX$327
96.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.54 โ‚ฌ3.05
$1.38 MX$23.70
156.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 โ‚ฌ1.83
$0.28 MX$4.74
657.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.03 โ‚ฌ7.78
$5.42 MX$92.9
66.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.79 โ‚ฌ1.54
$1.28 MX$21.98
39.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K โ‚ฌ33.1K
$19.0K MX$325.8K
102.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K โ‚ฌ22.9K
$23.5K MX$402.7K
13.18%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$183 โ‚ฌ158
$41.02 MX$704
346.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.81 โ‚ฌ20.52
$26.92 MX$462
-11.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04 โ‚ฌ21.57
$29.69 MX$510
-15.66%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.5 โ‚ฌ50.4
$52.3 MX$898
11.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.43 โ‚ฌ12.44
$26.23 MX$450
-44.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35 โ‚ฌ8.06
$6.18 MX$106
51.29%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$188 โ‚ฌ162
$427 MX$7,331
-56.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,363 โ‚ฌ1,174
$10.7K MX$183.6K
-87.26%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4 โ‚ฌ71.0
$56.8 MX$975
45.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53 โ‚ฌ24.58
$44.83 MX$769
-36.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 โ‚ฌ93.5
$105 MX$1,794
3.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 โ‚ฌ91.2
$106 MX$1,819
-0.11%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$483 โ‚ฌ416
$995 MX$17.1K
-51.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$341 โ‚ฌ293
$621 MX$10.7K
-45.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 โ‚ฌ519
$2,126 MX$36.5K
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$551 โ‚ฌ475
$1,254 MX$21.5K
-56.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,400 โ‚ฌ2,929
$3,903 MX$67.0K
-12.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,500 โ‚ฌ2,154
$2,096 MX$36.0K
19.28%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$888 โ‚ฌ765
$1,107 MX$19.0K
-19.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.35
11.34
-61.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kaลกtela: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $483 in Kaลกtela and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 25% 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: $81.0 in Kaลกtela vs $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $288, with Kaลกtela 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
Kaลกtela vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kaลกtela and Mexico City?
Kaลกtela and Mexico City differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,356 vs $1,447 including rent). Kaลกtela is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 25% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Kaลกtela and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $483 in Kaลกtela versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kaลกtela and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Kaลกtela runs roughly 96% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kaลกtela and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $188 in Kaลกtela versus $427 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kaลกtela but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kaลกtela the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kaลกtela and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ€“ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kaลกtela or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kaลกtela and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kaลกtela or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Kaลกtela gentler on the wallet โ€“ expenses run 7% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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