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 $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $892 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,426 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,961 in Astana, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 63% more than Astana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Astana is 33% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$8.27 ₸3,889

58.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$29.74 ₸14.0K

80.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$5.74 ₸2,697

68.64%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$2.22 ₸1,045

68.47%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.91 ₸429

78.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$0.57 ₸266

103.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

$1.18 ₸557

173.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

$3.01 ₸1,413

57.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$0.97 ₸456

70.10%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$0.46 ₸219

497.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$1.38 ₸650

35.51%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$1.69 ₸794

47.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$9.49 ₸4,460

7.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$4.83 ₸2,269

70.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$6.98 ₸3,281

69.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$1.37 ₸643

119.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$1.84 ₸863

-1.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$1.90 ₸895

5.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$1.88 ₸886

6.38%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$0.56 ₸262

271.43%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$0.37 ₸176

513.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$0.96 ₸449

52.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.74 ₸349

45.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$1.90 ₸895

128.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

$9.54 ₸4,482

78.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

$0.97 ₸455

78.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

$1.68 ₸789

113.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.23 ₸108

69.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

$14.80 ₸6,955

26.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$1.80 ₸844

-26.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

$0.71 ₸333

-60.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$4.32 ₸2,028

21.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$0.51 ₸239

162.75%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$20.3K ₸9.5M

-4.27%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$25.2K ₸11.9M

-5.60%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$53.3 ₸25.0K

-23.59%

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

$26.87 MX$468

$8.34 ₸3,918

222.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$13.70 ₸6,438

122.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$51.0 ₸24.0K

3.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

$10.96 ₸5,150

143.16%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$5.22 ₸2,454

24.71%

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

$428 MX$7,454

$239 ₸112.3K

79.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

$4,800 ₸2.3M

118.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$57.4 ₸27.0K

-0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$35.08 ₸16.5K

29.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$87.6 ₸41.2K

18.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$87.7 ₸41.2K

22.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$467 ₸219.4K

114.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$323 ₸151.6K

93.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

$860 ₸404.3K

145.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

$587 ₸276.0K

107.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

$1,409 ₸662.3K

175.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

$1,013 ₸476.3K

100.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$845 ₸397.2K

22.79%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Astana: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $467 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 23% 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 $30.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $177 – 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: $1,456 in Mexico City, $892 in Astana – roughly 63% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,338 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 $428 per month in Mexico City and $239 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 65% 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 $892, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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 $892 in Astana to $1,456 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.