Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Can Tho Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Can Tho

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,448 per month in Mexico City vs $669 in Can Tho, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Mexico City vs $1,154 in Can Tho, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Mexico City vs $1,640 in Can Tho, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 117% more than Can Tho, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Can Tho is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96 MX$225
$1.12 ₫29.5K
1057.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3 MX$908
$20.14 ₫529.1K
159.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 MX$168
$3.37 ₫88.5K
187.54%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.1
$0.94 ₫24.7K
298.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$27.14
$0.46 ₫12.0K
239.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.10
$0.28 ₫7,326
314.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 MX$56.3
$1.00 ₫26.3K
224.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 MX$85.0
$1.16 ₫30.5K
322.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.54
$1.31 ₫34.5K
29.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 MX$46.30
$1.03 ₫27.0K
159.22%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.77
$0.73 ₫19.3K
158.90%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$43.74
$1.42 ₫37.3K
77.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 MX$174
$11.45 ₫300.8K
-12.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 MX$148
$3.69 ₫97.1K
131.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$207
$10.23 ₫268.7K
16.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.6
$2.72 ₫71.5K
9.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MX$31.14
$1.15 ₫30.1K
55.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.69
$1.31 ₫34.3K
52.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.03
$0.75 ₫19.7K
161.33%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.53
$0.76 ₫19.9K
184.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.38
$0.95 ₫24.9K
138.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.34
$0.70 ₫18.4K
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.34
$0.47 ₫12.2K
136.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$72.9
$1.24 ₫32.5K
238.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 MX$287
$7.77 ₫204.1K
112.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$29.19
$0.92 ₫24.2K
82.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 MX$62.3
$1.41 ₫37.1K
154.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.71
$0.35 ₫9,065
11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$333
$6.47 ₫169.9K
196.60%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.98
$0.48 ₫12.6K
187.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.24
$0.61 ₫16.1K
-50.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$93.5
$3.13 ₫82.1K
72.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 MX$22.32
$0.81 ₫21.3K
59.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$327.9K
$37.7K ₫990.6M
-49.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$413.0K
$33.5K ₫879.5M
-28.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$692
$48.00 ₫1.3M
-16.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83 MX$483
$3.93 ₫103.3K
608.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77 MX$517
$9.42 ₫247.3K
216.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$902
$21.73 ₫570.7K
139.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22 MX$455
$7.65 ₫201.0K
242.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$109
$3.33 ₫87.6K
88.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 MX$7,508
$191 ₫5.0M
127.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.9K
$6,860 ₫180.2M
53.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 MX$989
$19.32 ₫507.5K
195.03%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33 MX$787
$19.05 ₫500.4K
137.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,768
$96.6 ₫2.5M
5.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,883
$86.8 ₫2.3M
25.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 MX$17.2K
$364 ₫9.6M
172.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 MX$10.7K
$252 ₫6.6M
144.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 MX$36.2K
$687 ₫18.1M
203.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 MX$21.8K
$691 ₫18.1M
81.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,936 MX$68.3K
$3,273 ₫86.0M
20.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,089 MX$36.2K
$1,729 ₫45.4M
20.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Can Tho
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,131 MX$19.6K
$161 ₫4.2M
600.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
9.14
24.07%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026

Last update for Can Tho: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Mexico City versus $364 in Can Tho. 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 601% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $20.00 in Can Tho. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $181 – making Can Tho 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 Can Tho: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Can Tho cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 117%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. 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 $2,173 per month in Mexico City and $1,003 in Can Tho. 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 Can Tho, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Can Tho?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Can Tho?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $20.00 in Can Tho. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Can Tho?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Can Tho, where all-in costs run around $669, than in Mexico City at $1,448. In Can Tho it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Can Tho more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Can Tho – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Can Tho?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Can Tho. 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.

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