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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $517 in Mahabad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $809 in Mahabad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,102 in Mahabad, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 187% more than Mahabad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Mahabad is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$3.05 $3.05

325.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

$17.28 $17.28

207.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$2.09 $2.09

365.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.81 $0.81

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 $1.00

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$2.35 $2.35

59.57%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$0.99 $0.99

58.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.96 $0.96

17.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$0.60 $0.60

170.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$0.41 $0.41

560.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$2.12 $2.12

-11.32%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$1.23 $1.23

104.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$3.17 $3.17

217.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$3.29 $3.29

151.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$7.39 $7.39

61.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$0.77 $0.77

271.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$1.28 $1.28

36.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$0.86 $0.86

141.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$0.44 $0.44

347.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.49 $0.49

340.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$0.43 $0.43

406.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$0.48 $0.48

189.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.29 $0.29

286.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.92 $0.92

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 $0.49

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 $1.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$2.26 $2.26

85.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$0.21 $0.21

85.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

$10.10 $10.10

84.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

$0.33 $0.33

321.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

$0.27 $0.27

11.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

$1.94 $1.94

179.38%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$0.71 $0.71

90.14%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

$73.3K $73.3K

-74.24%

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

$55.0K $55.0K

-57.93%

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

$40.82 MX$714

$15.77 $15.77

158.85%

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

$27.50 MX$481

$2.13 $2.13

1191.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

$5.79 $5.79

424.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$14.45 $14.45

269.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

$12.31 $12.31

113.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

$1.54 $1.54

307.14%

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

$436 MX$7,632

$115 $115

279.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

$1,968 $1,968

432.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$22.54 $22.54

151.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

$25.14 $25.14

78.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

$109 $109

-5.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

$69.2 $69.2

56.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

$287 $287

247.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$203 $203

206.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

$632 $632

238.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$320 $320

285.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

$849 $849

355.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

$560 $560

316.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$277 $277

284.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

22.24

-49.01%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mahabad: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $287 in Mahabad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 285% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $17.00 in Mahabad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $97.0 – making Mahabad 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 Mahabad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 187%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $775 in Mahabad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahabad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $115 in Mahabad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 196% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahabad, where all-in costs run around $517, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Mahabad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahabad – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mahabad. 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.