🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $652 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $827 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,001 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Mazar-i-Sharif costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mazar-i-Sharif is 51% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.18؋139
$13.18MX$228
-83.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.10؋895
$53.9MX$932
-73.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.28؋208
$9.42MX$163
-65.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61؋229
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06؋448
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.15؋73.3
$3.55MX$61.4
-67.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52؋33.20
$1.62MX$27.98
-67.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25؋15.70
$1.11MX$19.27
-77.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.55؋34.95
$1.70MX$29.43
-67.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20؋12.48
$2.72MX$47.02
-92.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56؋99.2
$1.91MX$33.07
-18.32%
Eggs
$1.55؋98.7
$2.54MX$43.86
-38.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.11؋325
$10.03MX$174
-49.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.70؋235
$8.09MX$140
-54.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.26؋334
$11.62MX$201
-54.73%
Apples(1kg)
$0.56؋35.62
$2.97MX$51.3
-81.14%
Banana(1kg)
$0.94؋60.0
$1.81MX$31.24
-48.07%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.71؋45.34
$2.01MX$34.82
-64.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56؋35.61
$2.03MX$35.20
-72.41%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46؋29.51
$2.12MX$36.75
-78.30%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36؋22.82
$2.27MX$39.25
-84.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41؋26.05
$1.40MX$24.22
-70.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.28؋17.57
$1.13MX$19.55
-75.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.87؋118
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.45؋28.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13؋71.6
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.18؋75.0
$4.27MX$73.9
-72.37%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60MX$62.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48؋30.42
$0.38MX$6.62
26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.66؋1,375
$19.18MX$332
12.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73؋46.37
$1.38MX$23.79
-47.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33؋84.3
$0.28MX$4.78
375.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.40؋88.9
$5.45MX$94.2
-74.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.11؋70.7
$1.30MX$22.55
-14.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$9,996؋634.8K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-46.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.0K؋2.6M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
77.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110؋7,012
$40.86MX$707
170.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.56؋988
$26.81MX$464
-41.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$290؋18.4K
$29.96MX$518
866.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$10.90؋692
$52.0MX$900
-79.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.52؋224
$26.84MX$464
-86.89%
Cinema Ticket
$4.24؋269
$6.30MX$109
-32.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$28.98؋1,840
$436MX$7,544
-93.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.20؋775
$56.7MX$980
-78.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.38MX$768
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$103MX$1,780
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$17.29؋1,098
$106MX$1,825
-83.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$85.0؋5,396
$1,022MX$17.7K
-91.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$43.37؋2,754
$631MX$10.9K
-93.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146؋9,245
$2,136MX$36.9K
-93.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$70.5؋4,478
$1,243MX$21.5K
-94.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mazar-i-Sharif
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$242؋15.4K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-78.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mazar-i-Sharif: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $85.0 in Mazar-i-Sharif and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 360% 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: $14.00 in Mazar-i-Sharif vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $91.0 vs $288 per month, with Mazar-i-Sharif 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
Mazar-i-Sharif vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Mazar-i-Sharif?
Mazar-i-Sharif is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 125% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mazar-i-Sharif or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 360% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mazar-i-Sharif and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $85.0 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mazar-i-Sharif and Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 218% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mazar-i-Sharif or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mazar-i-Sharif – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mazar-i-Sharif or Mexico City?
At $652 in Mazar-i-Sharif versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mazar-i-Sharif but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mazar-i-Sharif the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mazar-i-Sharif or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mazar-i-Sharif is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mazar-i-Sharif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mazar-i-Sharif vs other spots: cost of living compared