🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,802 in Markham.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $3,919 in Markham.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $5,035 in Markham.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 47% less than in Markham, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Markham109% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$14.56CA$19.94
-10.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$80.2CA$110
-33.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$8.78CA$12.03
10.71%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.26CA$4.47
15.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$2.10CA$2.87
-25.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$1.36CA$1.86
-16.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$3.77CA$5.17
-15.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$6.47CA$8.87
-27.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.77CA$2.43
-8.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$2.27CA$3.11
19.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.57CA$2.15
19.75%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$3.32CA$4.55
-24.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$15.61CA$21.38
-35.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$9.94CA$13.61
-16.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$7.38CA$10.11
61.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$4.48CA$6.14
-36.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.40CA$1.92
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.48CA$3.40
-16.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$3.39CA$4.64
-41.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$2.41CA$3.31
-10.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$2.11CA$2.89
3.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$3.16CA$4.33
-56.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.67CA$2.29
-32.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$14.13CA$19.36
-70.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$15.19CA$20.81
-6.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.29CA$3.13
-23.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.25CA$3.09
63.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$3.17CA$4.34
-87.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$95.4CA$131
-80.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$3.20CA$4.39
-56.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$2.74CA$3.76
-89.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$21.70CA$29.73
-75.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.09CA$1.49
23.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$25.1KCA$34.4K
-24.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$19.9KCA$27.2K
16.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$206CA$282
-80.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$33.43CA$45.80
-17.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$59.6CA$81.7
-49.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$46.27CA$63.4
15.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$14.48CA$19.84
81.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$10.97CA$15.03
-42.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$911CA$1,249
-52.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$28.9KCA$39.6K
-63.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$44.74CA$61.3
26.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$36.81CA$50.4
21.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$61.0CA$83.6
68.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$81.6CA$112
32.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$1,715CA$2,349
-41.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$1,606CA$2,200
-61.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$2,967CA$4,064
-27.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$2,458CA$3,368
-49.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$6,173CA$8,456
-37.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$5,668CA$7,765
-58.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$3,259CA$4,465
-67.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.59
72.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Markham: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,715 in Markham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Markham pays 205% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $80.0 in Markham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $327 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
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 Markham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Markham?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 89% lower than in Markham. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Markham?
On paper, Markham earns 205% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Markham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,715 in Markham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Markham?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $911 in Markham. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Markham?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Markham. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or Markham?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,802 in Markham, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Markham. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Markham?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,484 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Markham?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Markham are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared