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: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,321 in Hamilton.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $3,399 in Hamilton.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $4,477 in Hamilton.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 29% less than in Hamilton, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 20% above, Hamilton 69% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11 MX$206
$18.38 CA$25.54
-34.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 MX$887
$68.1 CA$94.7
-23.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$185
$12.51 CA$17.38
-12.87%
Cappuccino
$4.05 MX$68.9
$3.56 CA$4.94
13.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$29.15
$2.20 CA$3.06
-21.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 MX$23.41
$1.74 CA$2.42
-20.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$58.9
$5.18 CA$7.20
-33.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 MX$98.8
$6.50 CA$9.04
-10.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.50
$2.05 CA$2.85
-9.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 MX$54.8
$2.22 CA$3.09
45.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.44
$2.84 CA$3.94
-26.41%
Eggs
$2.91 MX$49.44
$3.44 CA$4.78
-15.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 MX$212
$7.57 CA$10.52
64.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$10.40 CA$14.46
-2.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 MX$270
$14.04 CA$19.52
13.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 MX$56.3
$3.91 CA$5.44
-15.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.14
$1.28 CA$1.78
66.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.22
$4.27 CA$5.93
-48.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MX$41.59
$3.92 CA$5.45
-37.50%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.20
$2.64 CA$3.66
-17.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.37
$1.75 CA$2.43
8.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 MX$27.45
$2.34 CA$3.26
-30.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$22.94
$1.46 CA$2.03
-7.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 MX$92.2
$14.22 CA$19.76
-61.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.59 MX$299
$13.06 CA$18.15
34.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.14
$2.38 CA$3.31
-13.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 MX$80.7
$4.19 CA$5.82
13.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.78
$2.74 CA$3.81
-87.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.58 MX$367
$87.7 CA$122
-75.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 MX$34.67
$3.50 CA$4.86
-41.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.82
$1.33 CA$1.85
-56.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 MX$101
$23.47 CA$32.62
-74.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$27.46
$1.19 CA$1.65
36.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$387.6K
$28.9K CA$40.2K
-21.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K MX$453.1K
$20.1K CA$27.9K
32.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,109
$151 CA$209
-56.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87 MX$508
$40.12 CA$55.8
-25.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 MX$621
$51.2 CA$71.1
-28.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 MX$1,037
$37.62 CA$52.3
62.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70 MX$454
$21.56 CA$29.96
23.84%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 MX$116
$10.27 CA$14.27
-33.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 MX$7,705
$615 CA$855
-26.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K MX$227.2K
$16.6K CA$23.1K
-19.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 MX$1,274
$50.2 CA$69.8
49.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 MX$940
$34.50 CA$47.94
60.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 MX$1,931
$91.9 CA$128
23.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MX$2,084
$121 CA$168
1.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 MX$19.3K
$1,320 CA$1,834
-14.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 MX$12.1K
$1,211 CA$1,683
-41.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,571 MX$43.7K
$2,063 CA$2,867
24.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 MX$22.3K
$1,928 CA$2,680
-32.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,993 MX$67.8K
$2,814 CA$3,910
41.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 MX$35.6K
$2,808 CA$3,902
-25.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hamilton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,047 MX$17.8K
$2,912 CA$4,047
-64.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.6
145.65%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Hamilton: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hamilton pays 178% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $68.0 in Hamilton. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $333, with Hamilton cheaper for home cooking.

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 Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 41% 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 178% 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: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,320 in Hamilton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $615 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?
Shoppers in Hamilton pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Hamilton?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,321 in Hamilton, a $3,000 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 41% less than in Hamilton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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