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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $483 in Karachi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $723 in Karachi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $963 in Karachi.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 199% more expensive than Karachi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Karachi is 64% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$2.15 PKR 598

503.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$12.44 PKR 3,457

322.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$4.20 PKR 1,167

124.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.00 PKR 556

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.44 PKR 1,512

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.83 PKR 508

95.08%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.34 PKR 93.4

373.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.23 PKR 64.2

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$0.81 PKR 224

109.88%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.55 PKR 152

380.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.14 PKR 317

66.67%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.16 PKR 322

118.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$6.64 PKR 1,847

51.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$3.28 PKR 912

152.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$5.18 PKR 1,440

123.36%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.03 PKR 287

194.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$0.59 PKR 165

189.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$0.88 PKR 245

132.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$0.52 PKR 146

296.15%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.36 PKR 99.7

472.22%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.47 PKR 132

361.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.38 PKR 106

268.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.40 PKR 112

180.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.30 PKR 360

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 PKR 354

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.14 PKR 596

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.06 PKR 573

108.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.36 PKR 101

5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$6.49 PKR 1,803

193.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.74 PKR 207

86.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.67 PKR 186

-58.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$1.78 PKR 495

204.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.87 PKR 242

47.13%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$16.5K PKR 4.6M

15.30%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$24.6K PKR 6.8M

-4.59%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$135 PKR 37.6K

-69.63%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$4.93 PKR 1,371

446.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$13.36 PKR 3,713

122.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$15.63 PKR 4,345

234.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$14.40 PKR 4,003

82.15%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$4.35 PKR 1,209

42.07%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$58.0 PKR 16.1K

636.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$1,354 PKR 376.4K

690.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$17.69 PKR 4,918

221.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$25.06 PKR 6,968

78.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$64.6 PKR 18.0K

61.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$36.14 PKR 10.0K

193.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$120 PKR 33.5K

726.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$75.3 PKR 20.9K

725.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$318 PKR 88.5K

567.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$179 PKR 49.8K

599.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$998 PKR 277.5K

290.98%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$463 PKR 128.9K

352.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$171 PKR 47.5K

548.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

17.8

-36.29%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Karachi: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $120 in Karachi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 548% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $12.00 in Karachi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $98.0 per month, with Karachi 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 Karachi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Karachi differ by about 199% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $483 including rent). Karachi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mexico City pays 548% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $120 in Karachi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $483 in Karachi – a 199% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Karachi runs roughly 194% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $483 in Karachi versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karachi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Karachi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Karachi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.