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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $589 in Islamabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $918 in Islamabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $1,246 in Islamabad, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 179% more than Islamabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 20% above the global median, while Islamabad is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.11 MX$205

$3.57 PKR 990

239.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$883

$22.74 PKR 6,309

129.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$184

$5.47 PKR 1,517

99.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.55 PKR 986

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.71 PKR 1,862

Cappuccino

$4.05 MX$68.5

$2.39 PKR 663

69.46%

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

$1.72 MX$29.00

$0.32 PKR 90.0

437.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 MX$23.29

$0.22 PKR 60.8

527.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.2

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.33

$0.99 PKR 275

86.87%

White Bread (500g)

$3.22 MX$54.5

$0.79 PKR 220

307.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.25

$1.28 PKR 354

63.28%

Eggs

$2.91 MX$49.18

$1.28 PKR 356

127.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.49 MX$211

$6.11 PKR 1,695

104.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$171

$3.06 PKR 849

230.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 MX$269

$5.12 PKR 1,421

210.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.31 MX$56.0

$1.34 PKR 371

147.01%

Banana (1kg)

$2.13 MX$35.95

$0.84 PKR 232

153.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.03

$1.02 PKR 282

114.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.45 MX$41.37

$0.49 PKR 135

400.00%

Potato (1kg)

$2.19 MX$37.00

$0.29 PKR 81.2

655.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.20

$0.33 PKR 90.4

475.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 MX$27.31

$0.29 PKR 80.8

458.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$22.82

$0.38 PKR 106

255.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.90 PKR 528

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.38 PKR 383

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 PKR 652

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 MX$91.7

$2.28 PKR 632

138.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$297

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$34.96

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.75

$0.16 PKR 44.31

112.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$365

$21.23 PKR 5,889

1.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.04 MX$34.49

$1.27 PKR 353

60.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.77

$0.69 PKR 191

-15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.97 MX$101

$1.65 PKR 459

261.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.31

$1.32 PKR 365

22.73%

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

$22.8K MX$385.6K

$53.9K PKR 15.0M

-57.71%

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

$26.7K MX$450.7K

$25.1K PKR 7.0M

6.21%

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

$65.2 MX$1,103

$102 PKR 28.3K

-36.10%

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

$29.87 MX$505

$5.83 PKR 1,618

412.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.55 MX$618

$16.34 PKR 4,534

123.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.0 MX$1,031

$29.09 PKR 8,071

109.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.70 MX$451

$8.93 PKR 2,478

198.99%

Cinema Ticket

$6.85 MX$116

$5.01 PKR 1,390

36.73%

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

$453 MX$7,664

$75.0 PKR 20.8K

504.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K MX$226.0K

$5,084 PKR 1.4M

162.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.0 MX$1,267

$23.55 PKR 6,532

218.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 MX$935

$32.68 PKR 9,066

69.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$114 MX$1,920

$83.6 PKR 23.2K

35.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,073

$39.29 PKR 10.9K

212.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,134 MX$19.2K

$277 PKR 76.8K

309.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$712 MX$12.0K

$144 PKR 40.0K

393.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.5K

$577 PKR 160.1K

345.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.2K

$266 PKR 73.9K

392.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.5K

$1,635 PKR 453.5K

144.25%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.4K

$829 PKR 230.1K

152.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 MX$17.7K

$381 PKR 105.8K

174.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

13.08

-13.61%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Islamabad: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $277 in Islamabad. 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 174% 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 $23.00 in Islamabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $103 – making Islamabad 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 Islamabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 179%, 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 $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $884 in Islamabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 236% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $23.00 in Islamabad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Islamabad, where all-in costs run around $589, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Islamabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Islamabad – 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 Islamabad. 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.