😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $958 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,485 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $2,011 in Makhachkala, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 52% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Makhachkala is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$15.57₽1,223
-16.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$39.54₽3,107
35.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$5.20₽409
86.15%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$3.30₽259
13.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.80₽62.6
102.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.35₽27.76
231.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.42₽112
127.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$2.50₽196
89.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.50₽118
10.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.65₽51.2
323.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.43₽112
30.77%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.37₽108
82.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$3.09₽243
230.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$4.73₽372
74.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$5.00₽393
136.40%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.81₽142
66.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.68₽132
7.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$2.75₽216
-27.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.82₽143
9.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.83₽65.2
150.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.45₽35.16
404.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$2.43₽191
-39.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.58₽45.63
86.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.14₽247
38.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$3.82₽300
344.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.04₽81.4
66.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.95₽153
83.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.40₽31.36
-2.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$2.24₽176
-40.63%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.18₽14.02
55.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$6.51₽511
-19.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.71₽55.8
88.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$36.0K₽2.8M
-46.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$31.0K₽2.4M
-23.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$54.2₽4,257
-24.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$6.31₽496
325.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$9.63₽757
216.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$46.00₽3,613
14.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$5.09₽400
27.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$164₽12.9K
160.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$6,965₽547.2K
50.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$104₽8,179
-45.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$45.22₽3,552
0.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$104₽8,209
-0.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$144₽11.3K
-25.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$497₽39.0K
102.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$298₽23.4K
109.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$720₽56.6K
192.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$402₽31.6K
202.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$1,666₽130.9K
133.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,210₽95.1K
67.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$830₽65.2K
25.06%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Makhachkala: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $497 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 25% 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 $40.00 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 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 52%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,437 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 and in Makhachkala?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $958 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 $428 per month in Mexico City and $164 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 living in Mexico City or in Makhachkala?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Makhachkala, where all-in costs run around $958, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared