😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $670 in Aktobe, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,054 in Aktobe, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,438 in Aktobe, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 117% more than Aktobe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Aktobe is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$8.00₸3,764
63.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$29.37₸13.8K
83.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$6.29₸2,961
53.90%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$1.78₸838
110.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.44₸680
12.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.45₸214
157.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.60₸753
101.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$2.10₸990
125.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.10₸517
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.27₸128
918.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.06₸498
76.42%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.50₸708
66.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$8.04₸3,787
26.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$4.78₸2,250
72.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$7.04₸3,316
67.90%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.42₸667
111.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$2.00₸940
-9.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.39₸1,124
-16.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.90₸893
5.26%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$0.80₸375
160.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.31₸147
632.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.82₸384
78.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.67₸316
61.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$1.89₸890
130.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$5.40₸2,543
214.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$0.95₸449
82.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$1.53₸719
133.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.14₸66.3
178.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$1.01₸474
31.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.96₸451
-70.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$4.77₸2,244
10.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.49₸229
173.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$17.9K₸8.4M
8.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$19.5K₸9.2M
22.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$40.67₸19.1K
0.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$10.26₸4,832
161.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$10.83₸5,099
181.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$29.27₸13.8K
80.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$9.66₸4,549
175.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$4.78₸2,249
36.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$215₸101.3K
98.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$4,819₸2.3M
117.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$35.04₸16.5K
63.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$29.64₸14.0K
53.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$91.0₸42.8K
14.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$62.8₸29.6K
71.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$218₸102.4K
361.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$186₸87.6K
234.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$354₸166.9K
495.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$279₸131.3K
336.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$777₸365.7K
400.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$510₸239.9K
298.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aktobe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$510₸240.1K
103.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
18.39
-38.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Aktobe: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $218 in Aktobe. 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 103% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $29.00 in Aktobe. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $164 – making Aktobe the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mexico City vs Aktobe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aktobe cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 117%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,005 in Aktobe. 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 Aktobe, 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 Mexico City and in Aktobe?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $670 in Aktobe. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $215 in Aktobe. 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 Mexico City or in Aktobe?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aktobe, where all-in costs run around $670, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Aktobe it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Aktobe more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aktobe – 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 Aktobe. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared