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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $428 in Karak, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $625 in Karak, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $822 in Karak, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 285% more than Karak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 20% above the global median, while Karak is 69% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11 MX$205
$0.75 PKR 207
1514.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 MX$883
$7.31 PKR 2,027
614.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$184
$5.51 PKR 1,527
97.82%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.75 PKR 207
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$6.78 PKR 1,879
-
Cappuccino
$4.05 MX$68.5
$0.56 PKR 155
623.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$28.99
$0.36 PKR 98.9
377.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 MX$23.28
$0.22 PKR 60.7
527.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$58.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 MX$98.2
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.32
$0.94 PKR 261
96.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 MX$54.5
$0.57 PKR 157
464.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.24
$1.09 PKR 302
91.74%
Eggs
$2.91 MX$49.16
$1.11 PKR 308
162.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 MX$211
$1.77 PKR 490
605.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$171
$2.87 PKR 795
252.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 MX$269
$4.35 PKR 1,205
265.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 MX$56.0
$0.69 PKR 191
379.71%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.94
$0.52 PKR 144
309.62%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.02
$0.73 PKR 203
200.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MX$41.36
$0.48 PKR 134
410.42%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$36.99
$0.29 PKR 81.1
655.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.19
$0.32 PKR 89.6
493.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$0.16 PKR 43.33
912.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$22.81
$0.26 PKR 72.7
419.23%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.85 PKR 512
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.33 PKR 368
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.44 PKR 676
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 MX$91.7
$2.30 PKR 638
136.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.59 MX$297
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$34.95
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 MX$80.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.74
$0.16 PKR 45.06
112.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.58 MX$365
$8.59 PKR 2,383
151.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 MX$34.48
$1.28 PKR 355
59.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.77
$0.73 PKR 203
-20.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 MX$101
$1.58 PKR 437
277.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$1.25 PKR 347
29.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$385.5K
$21.9K PKR 6.1M
4.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K MX$450.6K
$25.5K PKR 7.1M
4.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,102
$103 PKR 28.5K
-36.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87 MX$505
$5.81 PKR 1,611
414.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 MX$618
$16.19 PKR 4,489
125.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 MX$1,031
$16.60 PKR 4,601
267.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70 MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 MX$116
$4.78 PKR 1,326
43.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 MX$7,662
$75.3 PKR 20.9K
501.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K MX$226.0K
$996 PKR 276.1K
1242.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 MX$1,267
$23.90 PKR 6,626
213.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 MX$934
$31.81 PKR 8,819
73.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 MX$1,920
$81.8 PKR 22.7K
38.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MX$2,073
$39.51 PKR 11.0K
210.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 MX$19.2K
$130 PKR 35.9K
775.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 MX$12.0K
$84.3 PKR 23.4K
744.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,571 MX$43.4K
$285 PKR 79.0K
801.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 MX$22.2K
$155 PKR 43.0K
744.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,993 MX$67.5K
$804 PKR 222.9K
396.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 MX$35.4K
$585 PKR 162.2K
258.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Karak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,047 MX$17.7K
-
-
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 Karak: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $130 in Karak. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $7.00 in Karak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $74.0 – making Karak 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 Karak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Karak?
Mexico City costs about 285% more than Karak, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Karak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $642 in Karak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Karak?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Karak?
Public transport costs about 151% less in Karak. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Karak?
Kindergarten costs $453 per month in Mexico City and $75.3 in Karak. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Karak?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karak, where all-in costs run around $428, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Karak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Karak?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karak costs $428 versus $1,646 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Karak?
If budget matters most, go with Karak. 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.

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