Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Gonbad-e Kavus Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Gonbad-e Kavus

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $817 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,111 in Gonbad-e Kavus, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 180% more than Gonbad-e Kavus, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Gonbad-e Kavus is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$3.95 $3.95

233.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$934

$16.92 $16.92

218.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$4.60 $4.60

104.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.67 $0.67

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.06 $1.06

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.5

$1.16 $1.16

206.03%

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

$1.62 MX$28.03

$0.45 $0.45

260.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.31

$1.00 $1.00

11.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.1

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.48

$0.57 $0.57

198.25%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.10

$0.55 $0.55

394.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.13

$2.53 $2.53

-24.51%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.94

$1.09 $1.09

133.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$3.43 $3.43

192.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$2.29 $2.29

253.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$5.83 $5.83

99.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.4

$0.78 $0.78

280.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.30

$1.71 $1.71

5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.88

$0.98 $0.98

105.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.26

$0.48 $0.48

322.92%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.82

$0.49 $0.49

332.65%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.32

$0.72 $0.72

215.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.26

$0.59 $0.59

137.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.59

$0.31 $0.31

264.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.73 $0.73

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 $0.77

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 $1.36

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.0

$2.54 $2.54

68.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$270

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.64

$0.20 $0.20

90.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

$9.90 $9.90

93.74%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.84

$0.48 $0.48

187.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.79

$0.27 $0.27

3.70%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.4

$2.03 $2.03

168.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.60

$0.74 $0.74

75.68%

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

$18.7K MX$323.8K

$73.6K $73.6K

-74.61%

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

$23.1K MX$400.8K

$54.1K $54.1K

-57.22%

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

$40.86 MX$708

$16.05 $16.05

154.58%

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

$26.81 MX$465

$2.03 $2.03

1220.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$519

$5.88 $5.88

409.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$901

$16.27 $16.27

219.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$465

$12.73 $12.73

110.84%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

$1.48 $1.48

325.68%

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

$436 MX$7,558

$115 $115

279.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.5K

$1,989 $1,989

423.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$982

$22.32 $22.32

153.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$769

$24.74 $24.74

79.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,784

$112 $112

-7.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,829

$71.0 $71.0

48.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$282 $282

262.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$198 $198

218.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$37.0K

$638 $638

234.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$322 $322

285.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.6K

$1,089 $1,089

258.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.8K

$602 $602

242.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

22.24

-49.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gonbad-e Kavus: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $282 in Gonbad-e Kavus. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $17.00 in Gonbad-e Kavus. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $94.0 – making Gonbad-e Kavus 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 Gonbad-e Kavus: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 180%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $787 in Gonbad-e Kavus. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $524 in Gonbad-e Kavus. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 94% less in Gonbad-e Kavus. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gonbad-e Kavus, where all-in costs run around $524, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Gonbad-e Kavus it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gonbad-e Kavus – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Gonbad-e Kavus. 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.