😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $869 in Kedah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,333 in Kedah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,797 in Kedah.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 71% more expensive than Kedah, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Kedah is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.10MYR 12.26
318.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$20.93MYR 82.7
153.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$4.12MYR 16.26
135.92%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.92MYR 11.52
28.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.74MYR 2.91
112.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.36MYR 1.44
213.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$4.29MYR 16.95
-25.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$4.53MYR 17.91
2.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.81MYR 7.16
-10.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.92MYR 3.65
194.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.21MYR 4.78
55.37%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.06MYR 8.15
21.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$14.78MYR 58.4
-31.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.98MYR 19.67
66.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$14.83MYR 58.6
-19.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.78MYR 10.99
2.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.20MYR 4.76
45.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.71MYR 10.70
-23.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$2.15MYR 8.51
-8.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.17MYR 4.64
84.62%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.18MYR 4.64
84.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.95MYR 3.74
46.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.45MYR 1.77
148.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$4.32MYR 17.08
-2.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$19.89MYR 78.6
-28.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.69MYR 10.61
-34.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.54MYR 13.96
3.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.68MYR 2.70
-42.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$11.59MYR 45.78
61.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.72MYR 2.86
93.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.47MYR 1.85
-36.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$6.96MYR 27.49
-22.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.49MYR 1.94
175.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$33.7KMYR 133.3K
-44.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$27.2KMYR 107.4K
-14.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$37.91MYR 150
7.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$10.09MYR 39.84
172.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$11.64MYR 45.97
161.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$37.47MYR 148
42.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$5.95MYR 23.49
342.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$2.77MYR 10.95
126.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$238MYR 942
82.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$6,226MYR 24.6K
68.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$54.7MYR 216
3.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$29.36MYR 116
52.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$61.0MYR 241
68.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$52.8MYR 208
104.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$394MYR 1,558
153.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$265MYR 1,046
134.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$656MYR 2,590
225.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$470MYR 1,858
162.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,947MYR 7,692
98.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$795MYR 3,142
193.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kedah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,390MYR 5,491
-23.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.16
172.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kedah: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $394 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kedah pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Kedah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $272 per month, with Kedah 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 Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Kedah?
Mexico City and Kedah differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $869 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kedah earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Kedah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $394 in Kedah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Kedah?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $238 in Kedah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $869 in Kedah versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Kedah?
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.
Is Mexico City or Kedah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kedah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Kedah?
Expats usually find Kedah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% 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