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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $524 in Karaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $996 in Karaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,467 in Karaj.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 181% more expensive than in Karaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Karaj is 61% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$3.99 $3.99

229.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$17.94 $17.94

198.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$4.89 $4.89

90.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.63 $0.63

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$1.30 $1.30

184.62%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.46 $0.46

247.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$1.08 $1.08

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$0.63 $0.63

161.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$0.53 $0.53

411.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$1.95 $1.95

-2.05%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$1.04 $1.04

149.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$3.54 $3.54

177.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$3.30 $3.30

155.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$10.82 $10.82

10.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$0.82 $0.82

259.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.45 $1.45

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$0.83 $0.83

145.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$0.46 $0.46

347.83%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$0.44 $0.44

388.64%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$0.44 $0.44

413.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$0.60 $0.60

131.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.19 $0.19

489.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.59 $0.59

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 $0.48

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 $1.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$2.55 $2.55

65.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$0.22 $0.22

59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

$12.83 $12.83

50.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$0.29 $0.29

375.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.31 $0.31

-9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$2.53 $2.53

108.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$0.74 $0.74

83.78%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$81.5K $81.5K

-76.57%

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$54.1K $54.1K

-56.37%

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

$40.53 MX$701

$14.13 $14.13

186.84%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$2.10 $2.10

1203.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$5.77 $5.77

426.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$23.12 $23.12

125.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

$9.85 $9.85

168.83%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$1.54 $1.54

301.95%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$129 $129

228.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$811 $811

1223.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$25.21 $25.21

131.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$33.98 $33.98

31.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$96.0 $96.0

7.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$61.1 $61.1

77.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$370 $370

173.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$195 $195

219.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$874 $874

142.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$622 $622

96.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

$1,269 $1,269

198.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

$532 $532

296.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$246 $246

327.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

22.67

-49.98%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Karaj: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $370 in Karaj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 328% 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 $18.00 in Karaj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $108 per month, with Karaj 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 Karaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Karaj differ by about 181% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $524 including rent). Karaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 328% higher in Mexico City, 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $370 in Karaj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 171% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Karaj – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $524 in Karaj versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Karaj but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Karaj 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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Karaj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Karaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 181% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.