🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $944 in Kedah versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,399 in Kedah versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,853 in Kedah versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Kedah costs roughly 43% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Kedah is 31% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.51MYR 14.38
$11.92MX$205
-70.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.36MYR 50.6
$51.6MX$886
-76.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03MYR 20.58
$11.41MX$196
-55.92%
Cappuccino
$2.66MYR 10.91
$3.99MX$68.6
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MYR 3.74
$1.66MX$28.48
-45.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MYR 1.34
$1.33MX$22.77
-75.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41MYR 9.87
$3.47MX$59.6
-30.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29MYR 17.56
$5.90MX$101
-27.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.43MYR 9.95
$1.88MX$32.21
29.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.36MYR 5.57
$3.25MX$55.9
-58.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.76MYR 7.20
$2.16MX$37.10
-18.52%
Eggs
$2.62MYR 10.71
$2.90MX$49.72
-9.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.65MYR 64.0
$12.86MX$221
21.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.90MYR 20.07
$10.05MX$173
-51.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.56MYR 39.14
$15.86MX$272
-39.72%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36MYR 9.65
$3.29MX$56.6
-28.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.92
$2.01MX$34.44
-27.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28MYR 9.32
$2.20MX$37.76
3.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.25MYR 5.13
$2.36MX$40.44
-47.03%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MYR 3.74
$2.05MX$35.27
-55.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79MYR 3.23
$1.90MX$32.64
-58.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.77MYR 3.17
$1.61MX$27.55
-52.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MYR 2.66
$1.40MX$23.98
-53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66MYR 19.08
$5.46MX$93.8
-14.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.25MYR 87.0
$17.65MX$303
20.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.49MYR 10.18
$2.06MX$35.28
20.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MYR 14.85
$4.68MX$80.4
-22.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74MYR 3.04
$0.34MX$5.81
117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.77MYR 48.18
$20.81MX$357
-43.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.22MYR 4.99
$2.10MX$35.99
-41.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.50MYR 2.06
$0.56MX$9.60
-10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.64MYR 27.19
$5.81MX$99.8
14.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60MYR 2.45
$1.61MX$27.56
-62.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.8KMYR 171.1K
$22.8KMX$392.1K
83.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.8KMYR 117.7K
$26.8KMX$459.2K
7.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.7MYR 207
$65.2MX$1,119
-22.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.98MYR 32.64
$30.09MX$517
-73.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.15MYR 132
$37.18MX$638
-13.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.87MYR 163
$59.8MX$1,026
-33.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.78MYR 23.67
$26.55MX$456
-78.23%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81MYR 19.69
$7.04MX$121
-31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171MYR 698
$465MX$7,976
-63.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,987MYR 20.4K
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-62.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.5MYR 223
$75.9MX$1,303
-28.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.20MYR 144
$56.0MX$960
-37.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.3MYR 296
$112MX$1,920
-35.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.5MYR 284
$121MX$2,068
-42.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$416MYR 1,701
$1,103MX$18.9K
-62.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320MYR 1,311
$721MX$12.4K
-55.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693MYR 2,837
$2,530MX$43.4K
-72.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$451MYR 1,847
$1,293MX$22.2K
-65.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,745MYR 7,141
$3,991MX$68.5K
-56.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,006MYR 4,117
$2,090MX$35.9K
-51.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kedah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,329MYR 5,440
$1,037MX$17.8K
28.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.43
11.3
-60.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kedah: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $416 in Kedah and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kedah pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Kedah vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $345 per month, with Kedah cheaper across the board.
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
Kedah vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kedah and in Mexico City?
Kedah and Mexico City differ by about 76% in total monthly costs ($944 vs $1,660 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kedah or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Kedah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kedah and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $416 in Kedah versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kedah and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $171 in Kedah versus $465 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 28% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $944 in Kedah versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kedah and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Kedah or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kedah 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: Kedah or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Kedah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 76% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.