😐A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $414 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $631 in Layyah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $849 in Layyah, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 305% more than Layyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Layyah is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$1.77PKR 490
585.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$916
$10.84PKR 3,002
397.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$5.24PKR 1,452
111.64%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.46PKR 682
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.10PKR 581
-
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.6
$1.52PKR 420
169.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.57
$0.47PKR 129
257.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.58
$0.30PKR 81.8
363.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.9
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.45
$0.85PKR 235
117.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.9
$0.61PKR 169
419.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.18
$1.28PKR 353
61.72%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.74
$1.24PKR 344
136.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$8.80PKR 2,437
43.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$2.53PKR 702
299.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$3.94PKR 1,092
308.38%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.6
$1.03PKR 286
229.13%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.31
$0.62PKR 173
235.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.02
$0.58PKR 162
265.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$41.01
$0.50PKR 139
382.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.17
$0.31PKR 86.1
587.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.07
$0.49PKR 136
310.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.25
$0.54PKR 150
187.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.19
$0.42PKR 117
223.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.57PKR 157
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.52PKR 143
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70PKR 195
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$98.0
$2.35PKR 652
145.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.16
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.4
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.17PKR 46.21
117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$360
$9.89PKR 2,740
114.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.89
$1.09PKR 302
88.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.80
$1.07PKR 296
-45.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$2.84PKR 788
113.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.11PKR 306
39.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.6K
$23.4KPKR 6.5M
-2.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.7K
$22.8KPKR 6.3M
19.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,145
$67.3PKR 18.6K
0.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$5.61PKR 1,555
445.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$633
$11.50PKR 3,186
223.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,044
$15.04PKR 4,167
308.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$461
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$7.38PKR 2,044
-3.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,750
$26.46PKR 7,332
1624.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.6K
$2,038PKR 564.5K
571.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,260
$19.14PKR 5,301
287.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$969
$26.73PKR 7,404
113.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,961
$54.3PKR 15.0K
112.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,064
$29.97PKR 8,302
305.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$127PKR 35.2K
802.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.1K
$77.5PKR 21.5K
815.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.8K
$257PKR 71.3K
902.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$149PKR 41.3K
768.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$68.0K
$923PKR 255.8K
333.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.2K
$525PKR 145.3K
306.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Layyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
11.83
-4.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Layyah: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $127 in Layyah. 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $11.00 in Layyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $98.0 – making Layyah 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 Layyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Layyah cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 305%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $621 in Layyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Layyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Layyah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $11.00 in Layyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Layyah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,677 in Mexico City and $414 in Layyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Layyah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Layyah, where all-in costs run around $414, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Layyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Layyah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Layyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Layyah. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared