🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $453 in Machakos versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $752 in Machakos versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,051 in Machakos versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Machakos costs roughly 69% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Machakos is 66% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34KES 302
$12.98MX$227
-81.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.88KES 5,018
$53.1MX$929
-26.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.85KES 884
$9.72MX$170
-29.53%
Cappuccino
$1.99KES 257
$3.75MX$65.6
-46.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74KES 95.7
$1.57MX$27.46
-52.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50KES 64.9
$1.13MX$19.76
-55.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91KES 247
$3.18MX$55.7
-39.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70KES 348
$4.66MX$81.6
-42.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.38KES 48.71
$1.62MX$28.37
-76.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.45KES 57.8
$2.71MX$47.36
-83.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81KES 104
$1.88MX$32.89
-56.91%
Eggs
$1.35KES 175
$2.51MX$43.90
-46.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.65KES 1,504
$10.08MX$176
15.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69KES 864
$8.29MX$145
-19.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.57KES 590
$11.94MX$209
-61.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.53KES 197
$2.86MX$50.1
-46.50%
Banana(1kg)
$0.73KES 94.5
$1.75MX$30.62
-58.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.41KES 52.4
$2.08MX$36.48
-80.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.37KES 48.38
$1.97MX$34.46
-81.22%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78KES 101
$2.16MX$37.79
-63.89%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75KES 97.4
$2.18MX$38.16
-65.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65KES 84.0
$1.39MX$24.34
-53.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41KES 52.8
$1.12MX$19.69
-63.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01KES 388
$4.20MX$73.5
-28.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.72KES 1,512
$14.25MX$249
-17.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98KES 255
$1.76MX$30.85
12.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73KES 353
$3.68MX$64.5
-25.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.39MX$6.74
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.66MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75KES 97.1
$1.39MX$24.26
-46.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.80KES 104
$0.30MX$5.32
166.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97KES 383
$5.42MX$94.9
-45.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.45KES 187
$1.35MX$23.63
7.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KKES 2.8M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
16.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KKES 2.6M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
-12.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.86KES 4,370
$40.82MX$714
-17.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.93KES 1,023
$27.50MX$481
-71.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.71KES 1,511
$30.38MX$532
-61.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$53.4MX$935
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.30MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.05KES 781
$6.27MX$110
-3.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.51KES 5,874
$436MX$7,632
-89.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,077KES 1.0M
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-22.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$11.55KES 1,491
$56.8MX$993
-79.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.37KES 3,145
$44.79MX$784
-45.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4KES 8,570
$103MX$1,799
-35.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.37KES 4,952
$108MX$1,888
-64.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$92.4KES 11.9K
$1,000MX$17.5K
-90.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$69.9KES 9,021
$620MX$10.9K
-88.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154KES 19.8K
$2,137MX$37.4K
-92.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115KES 14.8K
$1,235MX$21.6K
-90.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Machakos
Mexico City
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$389KES 50.2K
$1,067MX$18.7K
-63.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.84
11.34
30.86%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Machakos: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $92.4 in Machakos and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 174% 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: $39.00 in Machakos vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $286 per month, with Machakos cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Machakos vs Mexico City: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Machakos or Mexico City?
Machakos wins on cost – living expenses run 227% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Machakos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Machakos or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 174% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Machakos vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $92.4 in Machakos versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Machakos or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Machakos compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $453 per month in Machakos versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 227% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Machakos or Mexico City?
At $453 in Machakos versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Machakos but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Machakos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Machakos or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Machakos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $453 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Machakos hard to pass up.
How safe is Machakos compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Machakos 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Machakos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 227% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Machakos vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado