Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $898 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Mexico City vs $1,407 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Mexico City vs $1,916 in Astana, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 65% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Astana is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.29 MX$231

$8.23 ₸3,868

61.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$933

$29.11 ₸13.7K

84.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 MX$161

$5.95 ₸2,797

56.13%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$2.15 ₸1,009

67.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MX$27.03

$0.94 ₸442

65.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.46

$0.54 ₸252

107.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 MX$54.3

$1.19 ₸559

163.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 MX$81.7

$2.92 ₸1,371

61.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.54

$0.93 ₸439

82.80%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 MX$48.03

$0.47 ₸221

489.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.05

$1.40 ₸660

40.00%

Eggs

$2.60 MX$45.21

$1.71 ₸804

52.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 MX$173

$9.33 ₸4,386

6.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 MX$141

$4.74 ₸2,229

70.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 MX$200

$7.10 ₸3,339

61.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MX$49.84

$1.32 ₸622

117.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MX$30.07

$1.83 ₸862

-5.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.73

$1.98 ₸930

1.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$1.95 ₸919

4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.14

$0.59 ₸276

252.54%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 MX$38.12

$0.37 ₸176

494.59%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 MX$25.24

$1.03 ₸483

40.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.63

$0.75 ₸351

42.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.2

$1.81 ₸850

135.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 MX$249

$8.47 ₸3,980

69.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.62

$0.99 ₸467

77.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 MX$64.2

$1.65 ₸774

124.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.12

$0.21 ₸98.3

66.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.19 MX$333

$14.43 ₸6,785

32.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 MX$23.18

$1.71 ₸804

-21.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.83

$0.68 ₸318

-58.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 MX$92.6

$4.39 ₸2,064

21.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$0.51 ₸238

162.75%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K MX$332.0K

$20.5K ₸9.6M

-6.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K MX$414.5K

$25.4K ₸11.9M

-5.84%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.86 MX$692

$54.5 ₸25.6K

-26.85%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.78 MX$465

$8.14 ₸3,826

228.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.36 MX$510

$13.70 ₸6,442

114.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$927

$50.0 ₸23.5K

6.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.09 MX$453

$11.30 ₸5,312

130.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MX$111

$5.20 ₸2,446

23.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$440 MX$7,647

$235 ₸110.3K

87.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K MX$186.6K

$4,809 ₸2.3M

123.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 MX$1,000

$56.2 ₸26.4K

2.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.02 MX$781

$34.80 ₸16.4K

29.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,801

$87.4 ₸41.1K

18.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,874

$87.9 ₸41.3K

22.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,013 MX$17.6K

$481 ₸225.9K

110.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MX$10.9K

$324 ₸152.2K

94.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,162 MX$37.5K

$851 ₸399.9K

154.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 MX$21.2K

$605 ₸284.6K

101.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,793 MX$65.8K

$1,292 ₸607.1K

193.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.5K

$943 ₸443.5K

147.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,075 MX$18.7K

$723 ₸339.8K

48.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

16.12

-29.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

Last update for Astana: April 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,013 in Mexico City versus $481 in Astana. 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 49% 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 in Mexico City versus $29 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $176 – making Astana 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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City, $898 in Astana – roughly 65% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,226 per month in Mexico City and $1,346 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $440 per month in Mexico City and $235 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 62% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $898, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $898 in Astana to $1,484 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Astana. 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.