🙂A single person spends $684 per month in Makhachkala vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,163 per month in Makhachkala vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,641 per month in Makhachkala vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Makhachkala is about 58% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Makhachkala sits 50% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.61₽997
$12.11MX$205
-4.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.70₽2,978
$52.2MX$883
-33.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.56₽392
$10.90MX$184
-58.17%
Cappuccino
$2.68₽230
$4.05MX$68.5
-33.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73₽62.7
$1.72MX$28.99
-57.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32₽27.54
$1.38MX$23.28
-76.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47MX$58.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.81MX$98.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32₽113
$1.85MX$31.32
-28.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48₽41.40
$3.22MX$54.5
-85.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.17₽100
$2.09MX$35.24
-44.02%
Eggs
$1.58₽135
$2.91MX$49.16
-45.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.36₽717
$12.49MX$211
-33.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.07₽521
$10.11MX$171
-39.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.82₽671
$15.89MX$269
-50.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21₽104
$3.31MX$56.0
-63.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79₽154
$2.13MX$35.94
-15.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.14₽183
$2.19MX$37.02
-2.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.96₽254
$2.45MX$41.36
20.82%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81₽69.8
$2.19MX$36.99
-63.01%
Onion(1kg)
$0.41₽35.33
$1.90MX$32.19
-78.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.62MX$27.30
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.88₽75.5
$1.35MX$22.81
-34.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92₽250
$5.43MX$91.7
-46.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.50₽301
$17.59MX$297
-80.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.48₽41.40
$2.07MX$34.95
-76.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.75MX$80.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36₽30.49
$0.34MX$5.74
5.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$365
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.29₽197
$2.04MX$34.48
12.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.58MX$9.77
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.97MX$101
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76₽65.4
$1.62MX$27.30
-53.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0K₽2.7M
$22.8KMX$385.5K
40.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K₽2.4M
$26.7KMX$450.6K
4.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$65.2MX$1,102
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$29.87MX$505
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$36.55MX$618
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4₽4,584
$61.0MX$1,031
-12.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.65₽399
$6.85MX$116
-32.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$208₽17.9K
$453MX$7,662
-54.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.4KMX$226.0K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$75.0MX$1,267
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$55.3MX$934
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$114MX$1,920
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$123MX$2,073
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380₽32.6K
$1,134MX$19.2K
-66.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286₽24.5K
$712MX$12.0K
-59.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$829₽71.2K
$2,571MX$43.4K
-67.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$648₽55.6K
$1,311MX$22.2K
-50.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,494₽128.2K
$3,993MX$67.5K
-62.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,050₽90.1K
$2,095MX$35.4K
-49.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makhachkala
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$595₽51.0K
$1,047MX$17.7K
-43.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18
11.3
59.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makhachkala: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Makhachkala versus $1,134 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.
💰Salaries run about 76% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Makhachkala versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $171 vs $345 – making Makhachkala the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Makhachkala vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Makhachkala?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 141%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,026 per month in Makhachkala and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Makhachkala and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $684 in Makhachkala and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $208 per month in Makhachkala and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Makhachkala or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $684, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Makhachkala or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Makhachkala. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Makhachkala vs other spots: cost of living compared