Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Frankston

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,608 a month against $2,438 in Frankston, rent and utilities included – about $10,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Frankston, Australia
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Frankston
🇦🇺 Australia
$2,438
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Frankston

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Frankston actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Mexico City vs $2,438 in Frankston, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Frankston $2,438

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Mexico City vs $3,403 in Frankston, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Frankston $3,403

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Mexico City vs $4,369 in Frankston, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Frankston $4,369

Mexico City is about 34% cheaper than Frankston, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both Mexico City and Frankston sit above the global median – Mexico City by 18%, Frankston by 79%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$197
$15.24 A$21.76
-30.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$898
$59.8 A$85.5
-19.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$192
$10.72 A$15.31
-3.45%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.5
$2.74 A$3.92
34.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$30.95
$3.18 A$4.54
-47.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.50
$2.08 A$2.97
-38.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.3
$10.03 A$14.32
-68.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.6
$6.81 A$9.72
-22.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.03
$1.51 A$2.16
13.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.5
$2.62 A$3.74
16.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.05
$2.06 A$2.94
-5.83%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.6
$3.78 A$5.40
-23.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$204
$10.62 A$15.17
3.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$9.57 A$13.67
-3.34%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$281
$7.80 A$11.13
93.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.6
$2.67 A$3.82
14.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.05
$3.16 A$4.51
-38.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.61
$2.76 A$3.94
-26.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$42.99
$2.72 A$3.89
-15.07%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.79
$3.04 A$4.34
-32.89%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.43
$2.60 A$3.71
-30.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.47
$2.41 A$3.45
-38.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.54
$1.38 A$1.96
-7.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.5
$42.80 A$61.1
-87.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$299
$6.28 A$8.97
156.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.83
$3.25 A$4.64
-39.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.0
$4.22 A$6.03
0.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.67
$3.61 A$5.16
-91.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$367
$83.1 A$119
-76.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.13
$4.44 A$6.34
-58.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.91
$1.44 A$2.05
-63.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.3
$30.55 A$43.63
-82.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.05
$1.15 A$1.65
31.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$404.0K
$29.7K A$42.4K
-26.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$445.4K
$26.3K A$37.6K
-8.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,170
$228 A$326
-72.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$509
$10.68 A$15.26
156.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$662
$56.8 A$81.0
-37.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,095
$57.0 A$81.4
3.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$439
$17.67 A$25.24
33.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$17.47 A$24.95
-63.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,015
$2,450 A$3,499
-82.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.1K
$30.4K A$43.4K
-62.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,267
$79.9 A$114
-14.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$987
$51.2 A$73.2
3.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,002
$87.9 A$126
22.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,178
$48.59 A$69.4
141.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.7K
$1,405 A$2,007
-20.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$1,247 A$1,780
-43.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.1K
$2,219 A$3,169
16.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.1K
$1,841 A$2,629
-23.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.4K
$5,812 A$8,300
-37.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.6K
$5,351 A$7,641
-60.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Frankston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$4,360 A$6,227
-78.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
5.9
92.37%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Frankston: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Frankston
$1.2K 75.5% $536
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Frankston
$302 5.3% $17
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Frankston
$272 36.8% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Frankston
$120 22.7% $35
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Frankston
$296 135% $170
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Frankston
$92 28.2% $20
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Frankston
$109 329% $84

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,113 in Mexico City versus $1,405 in Frankston. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Frankston are about 4.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City versus $60 in Frankston. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Mexico City vs $302 in Frankston – so Frankston wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇦🇺 Frankston
🕒 Local time
19:52 7:52 PM
12:52 12:52 PM
17 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
37,331
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

AUD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18.57 MXN (100 MXN = 5.38 USD). 1 EUR = 20.81 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Australian Dollar exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 AUD (1 AUD = 0.7 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 AUD (1 AUD = 0.625 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Frankston 13,550 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Frankston

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Frankston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Frankston?
Yes – Frankston is pricier by about 52%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Mexico City and $3,658 in Frankston. 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 Mexico City, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $1,113 there versus $1,405 in Frankston.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Frankston?
Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Frankston – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Frankston?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City and $60 in Frankston. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $3,000 enough for either Mexico City or Frankston?
$3,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,608 in Mexico City and $2,438 in Frankston, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Mexico City or Frankston more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – 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 Mexico City. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Frankston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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