Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hamilton Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hamilton

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,493 in Hamilton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,584 in Hamilton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,676 in Hamilton.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 42% less than in Hamilton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Hamilton 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$229
$18.13 CA$25.41
-27.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$940
$73.3 CA$103
-26.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$10.98 CA$15.39
-11.84%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.4
$4.05 CA$5.68
-7.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.25
$2.10 CA$2.94
-22.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.31
$1.81 CA$2.53
-35.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.4
$5.83 CA$8.17
-44.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.9
$6.58 CA$9.23
-27.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.80
$2.23 CA$3.13
-26.01%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$48.15
$2.12 CA$2.98
29.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.77
$2.85 CA$4.00
-34.39%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.72
$3.14 CA$4.40
-20.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$7.74 CA$10.85
31.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$11.56 CA$16.21
-28.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$207
$14.39 CA$20.18
-17.86%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.6
$3.91 CA$5.48
-23.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.67
$1.30 CA$1.82
39.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.96
$3.55 CA$4.97
-43.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.89
$3.90 CA$5.47
-48.72%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.45
$2.62 CA$3.67
-20.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.72
$2.19 CA$3.07
3.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.47
$2.21 CA$3.09
-33.94%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.82
$1.99 CA$2.80
-45.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$76.0
$13.47 CA$18.88
-67.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$297
$12.63 CA$17.71
34.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.31
$2.41 CA$3.38
-28.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.5
$3.07 CA$4.31
16.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.77
$2.62 CA$3.68
-85.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$327
$87.4 CA$123
-78.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.18
$3.54 CA$4.96
-62.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.89
$1.22 CA$1.71
-77.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.8
$23.62 CA$33.12
-77.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.37
$1.14 CA$1.60
17.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$339.4K
$25.4K CA$35.6K
-23.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$416.7K
$20.4K CA$28.6K
16.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$712
$155 CA$218
-73.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$470
$40.11 CA$56.2
-33.01%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$534
$51.2 CA$71.7
-40.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$923
$36.80 CA$51.6
43.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$466
$22.40 CA$31.40
18.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$114
$11.57 CA$16.22
-43.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,485
$643 CA$901
-33.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.6K
$21.7K CA$30.4K
-51.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$1,001
$56.0 CA$78.5
2.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$796
$33.71 CA$47.26
34.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,819
$96.7 CA$136
7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,885
$121 CA$170
-10.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$1,352 CA$1,895
-25.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$1,268 CA$1,778
-50.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.9K
$1,987 CA$2,785
6.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.3K
$2,022 CA$2,835
-39.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.9K
$2,710 CA$3,800
43.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.5K
$2,749 CA$3,854
-26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$2,871 CA$4,025
-63.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.62
71.30%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $1,352 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 177% 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 $73.0 in Hamilton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $341 per month, with Mexico City 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 Hamilton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamilton cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 71% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Hamilton?
On paper, salaries run 177% lower in Hamilton. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Hamilton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $1,352 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $643 in Hamilton. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Hamilton?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Hamilton. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Hamilton?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,493 in Hamilton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Hamilton. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Hamilton more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hamilton, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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