😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $325 in Jhelum.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $512 in Jhelum.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $700 in Jhelum.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 352% more expensive than Jhelum, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Jhelum is 76% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.78PKR 496
640.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$10.47PKR 2,911
414.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.58PKR 996
163.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.90PKR 806
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.90PKR 1,363
-
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.51PKR 419
135.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.33PKR 91.9
390.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.24PKR 67.0
362.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.56PKR 156
203.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.59PKR 165
361.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$1.26PKR 351
51.59%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.15PKR 320
120.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$5.06PKR 1,408
98.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$2.38PKR 662
239.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$3.07PKR 854
278.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.03PKR 287
188.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$0.54PKR 151
235.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$0.63PKR 175
219.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$0.51PKR 142
298.04%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.35PKR 96.9
505.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.55PKR 154
312.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.19PKR 51.5
636.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.22PKR 61.2
413.64%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01PKR 282
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.73PKR 204
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98PKR 550
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$0.84PKR 235
408.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.18PKR 51.0
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$6.92PKR 1,924
177.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$1.07PKR 299
28.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.53PKR 148
-47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$1.79PKR 497
204.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$0.97PKR 269
34.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
-15.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$20.8KPKR 5.8M
11.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$52.9PKR 14.7K
-22.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$2.87PKR 799
834.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$13.02PKR 3,623
130.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$12.58PKR 3,500
313.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$5.85PKR 1,628
358.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$3.44PKR 957
83.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$17.79PKR 4,950
2351.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$1,111PKR 309.1K
837.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$16.17PKR 4,498
250.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$22.32PKR 6,210
98.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$59.8PKR 16.6K
72.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$26.22PKR 7,294
302.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$74.5PKR 20.7K
1271.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$52.4PKR 14.6K
1103.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$164PKR 45.5K
1205.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$108PKR 29.9K
1055.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$851PKR 236.6K
358.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$454PKR 126.3K
354.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Jhelum
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
18
-37.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Jhelum: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $10.00 in Jhelum for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $76.0 per month, with Jhelum 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 Jhelum: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jhelum cheaper than Mexico City?
Jhelum is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 352% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $487 in Jhelum to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Jhelum?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $74.5 in Jhelum. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Jhelum?
Supermarket bills run roughly 277% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Jhelum?
Dining out is cheaper in Jhelum – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Jhelum?
At $325 in Jhelum versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Jhelum but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Jhelum the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Jhelum more family-friendly?
For families, Jhelum is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Jhelum?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Jhelum are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jhelum gentler on the wallet – expenses run 352% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared