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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $979 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,491 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $2,002 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 50% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Makhachkala is 27% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$15.31 ₽1,125
-13.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$931
$38.77 ₽2,848
39.03%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$5.20 ₽382
81.15%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.3
$3.12 ₽229
13.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.95
$0.84 ₽62.0
92.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.25
$0.35 ₽25.81
217.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$53.9
$1.36 ₽99.6
129.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.0
$2.50 ₽184
85.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.40
$1.51 ₽111
12.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$46.97
$0.60 ₽44.23
353.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.04
$1.38 ₽101
38.41%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$1.37 ₽101
85.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$173
$2.97 ₽218
237.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$4.80 ₽353
68.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$4.92 ₽361
136.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$1.74 ₽128
70.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.21
$1.75 ₽129
3.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.79
$2.72 ₽200
-26.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.16
$1.89 ₽139
7.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.71
$0.88 ₽64.5
140.91%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.21
$0.49 ₽35.84
363.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.20
$2.36 ₽173
-40.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.53
$0.59 ₽43.05
91.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.8
$3.19 ₽234
33.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$4.22 ₽310
268.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.36
$1.04 ₽76.4
69.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.1
$1.85 ₽136
94.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.43 ₽31.44
-11.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$331
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.77
$2.22 ₽163
-37.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.21 ₽15.53
33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.1
$6.18 ₽454
-11.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.53
$0.70 ₽51.3
85.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$322.9K
$35.3K ₽2.6M
-47.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$399.7K
$30.3K ₽2.2M
-23.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$706
$54.9 ₽4,033
-25.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$463
$6.13 ₽450
337.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$9.84 ₽723
204.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$899
$46.58 ₽3,421
11.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$5.02 ₽369
25.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,536
$166 ₽12.2K
162.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.0K
$7,077 ₽519.9K
47.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$979
$106 ₽7,777
-46.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$767
$44.24 ₽3,250
0.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,779
$105 ₽7,704
-1.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,823
$145 ₽10.7K
-27.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$501 ₽36.8K
103.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$305 ₽22.4K
107.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$698 ₽51.2K
206.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$399 ₽29.3K
211.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.4K
$1,789 ₽131.4K
118.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$1,289 ₽94.7K
60.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$860 ₽63.1K
29.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
11.33
0.09%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $501 in Makhachkala. 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 30% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $39.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $157 – making Makhachkala 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 Makhachkala: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Makhachkala cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 50%, 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 $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,468 in Makhachkala. 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 Makhachkala, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Makhachkala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $979 in Makhachkala. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $166 in Makhachkala. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Makhachkala?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $979, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Makhachkala it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Makhachkala more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Makhachkala – 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 Makhachkala. 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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