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 $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $966 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Mexico City vs $1,476 in Makhachkala, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Mexico City vs $1,987 in Makhachkala, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 54% more than Makhachkala, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% 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
$13.29 MX$231
$15.62 ₽1,188
-14.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$933
$38.69 ₽2,943
38.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.29 MX$161
$5.19 ₽395
79.00%
Cappuccino
$3.61 MX$62.6
$3.24 ₽246
11.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$27.03
$0.84 ₽63.6
85.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.46
$0.35 ₽26.81
220.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.13 MX$54.3
$1.37 ₽104
128.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71 MX$81.7
$2.57 ₽195
83.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.54
$1.51 ₽115
12.58%
White Bread (500g)
$2.77 MX$48.03
$0.65 ₽49.55
326.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$34.05
$1.38 ₽105
42.03%
Eggs
$2.60 MX$45.21
$1.38 ₽105
88.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 MX$173
$2.99 ₽227
232.44%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.10 MX$141
$4.81 ₽366
68.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.50 MX$200
$5.05 ₽384
127.72%
Apples (1kg)
$2.87 MX$49.84
$1.82 ₽138
57.69%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.07
$1.77 ₽134
-2.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.73
$2.80 ₽213
-28.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.38
$1.91 ₽145
6.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.14
$0.82 ₽62.2
153.66%
Onion (1kg)
$2.20 MX$38.12
$0.49 ₽36.98
348.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.24
$2.48 ₽189
-41.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 MX$18.63
$0.60 ₽45.39
78.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.2
$3.23 ₽245
32.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.32 MX$249
$8.61 ₽655
66.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.62
$1.00 ₽76.3
76.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 MX$64.2
$1.86 ₽142
98.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.12
$0.42 ₽32.02
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$333
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.34 MX$23.18
$2.23 ₽170
-39.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.83
$0.22 ₽16.69
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 MX$92.6
$6.50 ₽494
-18.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$0.71 ₽53.9
88.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$332.0K
$35.5K ₽2.7M
-46.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K MX$414.5K
$30.0K ₽2.3M
-20.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$692
$54.3 ₽4,130
-26.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78 MX$465
$6.32 ₽481
323.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36 MX$510
$9.94 ₽756
195.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$927
$47.60 ₽3,620
12.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09 MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$111
$5.02 ₽382
27.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$440 MX$7,647
$169 ₽12.9K
160.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K MX$186.6K
$6,894 ₽524.3K
55.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6 MX$1,000
$103 ₽7,818
-43.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02 MX$781
$44.15 ₽3,358
1.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,801
$104 ₽7,877
0.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,874
$145 ₽11.1K
-25.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,013 MX$17.6K
$498 ₽37.9K
103.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$630 MX$10.9K
$304 ₽23.1K
106.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,162 MX$37.5K
$700 ₽53.2K
208.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,222 MX$21.2K
$411 ₽31.3K
197.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,793 MX$65.8K
$1,683 ₽128.0K
125.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.5K
$1,217 ₽92.6K
91.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Makhachkala
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,075 MX$18.7K
$621 ₽47.3K
72.97%
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: April 11, 2026

Last update for Makhachkala: April 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,013 in Mexico City versus $498 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 73% 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 in Mexico City versus $39 in Makhachkala. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $168 – 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 54%, 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 $2,226 per month in Mexico City and $1,448 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 $1,484 in Mexico City and $966 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 $440 per month in Mexico City and $169 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 $966, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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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