😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $836 in Astrakhan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,263 in Astrakhan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,690 in Astrakhan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 100% more expensive than in Astrakhan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Astrakhan is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$8.56₽719
41.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$35.43₽2,977
52.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$6.42₽540
72.74%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$1.97₽165
108.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$1.08₽90.4
55.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.64₽54.1
117.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$1.14₽95.7
192.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$2.28₽192
157.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$1.13₽95.2
63.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.59₽49.41
437.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$0.80₽67.5
158.75%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$1.58₽133
85.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$10.36₽871
21.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$4.17₽350
142.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$5.69₽479
182.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.23₽104
175.61%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.61₽136
29.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$1.45₽122
46.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$1.85₽155
30.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$1.00₽84.5
113.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.69₽58.2
191.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.85₽71.3
82.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.42₽35.55
223.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$1.72₽145
235.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$3.43₽288
417.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$0.83₽69.6
149.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.51₽42.55
-27.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
$20.51₽1,724
3.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$2.24₽188
-8.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.59₽50.0
-1.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$3.57₽300
70.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$0.76₽64.0
103.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$25.5K₽2.1M
-10.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$27.9K₽2.3M
-2.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$58.1₽4,883
16.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$5.86₽493
422.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$8.18₽688
355.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$20.47₽1,720
200.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
$4.57₽384
493.44%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$4.19₽352
69.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$105₽8,852
333.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$6,335₽532.4K
116.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$40.10₽3,370
85.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$35.31₽2,967
61.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$68.7₽5,777
67.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$52.1₽4,376
133.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$465₽39.0K
147.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$347₽29.2K
104.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$649₽54.5K
297.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$519₽43.7K
149.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$1,186₽99.7K
237.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$581₽48.8K
266.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Astrakhan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$372₽31.3K
190.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
19
-40.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Astrakhan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $465 in Astrakhan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 191% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Astrakhan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $150 per month, with Astrakhan 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
Mexico City vs Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Astrakhan?
Mexico City and Astrakhan differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $836 including rent). Astrakhan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Astrakhan?
Average pay runs 191% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Astrakhan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $465 in Astrakhan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Astrakhan?
A monthly transit pass in Astrakhan runs roughly 3% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Astrakhan?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $105 in Astrakhan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $836 in Astrakhan versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Astrakhan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Astrakhan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Astrakhan?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Astrakhan?
Expats usually find Astrakhan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared