๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,356 in Kaลกtela versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,132 in Kaลกtela versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,908 in Kaลกtela versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Kaลกtela costs roughly 6% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
๐Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kaลกtela1% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.04โฌ13.82
$12.98MX$223
23.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.8โฌ69.6
$52.6MX$903
53.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.12โฌ7.86
$9.43MX$162
-3.29%
Cappuccino
$2.89โฌ2.49
$3.57MX$61.3
-19.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40โฌ2.93
$1.61MX$27.55
111.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53โฌ2.18
$1.15MX$19.81
120.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.51โฌ3.89
$3.15MX$54.0
43.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.81โฌ3.28
$4.86MX$83.4
-21.60%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38โฌ1.19
$1.70MX$29.17
-18.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57โฌ1.36
$2.64MX$45.23
-40.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.12โฌ2.69
$1.90MX$32.67
64.21%
Eggs
$3.92โฌ3.38
$2.54MX$43.62
54.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.05โฌ8.66
$10.08MX$173
-0.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.40โฌ8.10
$8.29MX$142
13.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.85โฌ11.07
$11.57MX$199
11.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79โฌ1.54
$3.03MX$52.0
-40.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70โฌ1.46
$1.71MX$29.35
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16โฌ1.86
$2.05MX$35.16
5.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.27โฌ1.96
$2.06MX$35.36
10.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.53โฌ1.32
$2.06MX$35.43
-25.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40โฌ1.20
$2.17MX$37.25
-35.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36โฌ1.17
$1.40MX$24.08
-2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.25โฌ1.08
$1.12MX$19.26
11.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.85โฌ5.04
$4.29MX$73.7
36.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51โฌ6.47
$15.41MX$265
-51.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34โฌ1.15
$1.67MX$28.74
-19.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13โฌ0.97
$3.69MX$63.3
-69.38%
๐ Getting Around
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36โฌ2.03
$0.38MX$6.55
521.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$37.44โฌ32.26
$19.06MX$327
96.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.54โฌ3.05
$1.38MX$23.70
156.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12โฌ1.83
$0.28MX$4.74
657.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.03โฌ7.78
$5.42MX$92.9
66.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79โฌ1.54
$1.28MX$21.98
39.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4Kโฌ33.1K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
102.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6Kโฌ22.9K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
13.18%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183โฌ158
$41.02MX$704
346.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.81โฌ20.52
$26.92MX$462
-11.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.04โฌ21.57
$29.69MX$510
-15.66%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.5โฌ50.4
$52.3MX$898
11.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.43โฌ12.44
$26.23MX$450
-44.99%
Cinema Ticket
$9.35โฌ8.06
$6.18MX$106
51.29%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188โฌ162
$427MX$7,331
-56.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,363โฌ1,174
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-87.26%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.4โฌ71.0
$56.8MX$975
45.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.53โฌ24.58
$44.83MX$769
-36.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109โฌ93.5
$105MX$1,794
3.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106โฌ91.2
$106MX$1,819
-0.11%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$483โฌ416
$995MX$17.1K
-51.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$341โฌ293
$621MX$10.7K
-45.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$603โฌ519
$2,126MX$36.5K
-71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$551โฌ475
$1,254MX$21.5K
-56.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,400โฌ2,929
$3,903MX$67.0K
-12.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,500โฌ2,154
$2,096MX$36.0K
19.28%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Kaลกtela
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$888โฌ765
$1,107MX$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
๐ 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.
๐ฐMexico 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.
๐Dining 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.