Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Markham

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,567 a month against $2,416 in Markham, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Markham
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,416
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Markham

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Markham actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $2,416 in Markham.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Markham $2,416

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $3,465 in Markham.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Markham $3,465

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $4,514 in Markham.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Markham $4,514

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 35% less than in Markham, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 16% above, Markham 79% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$198
$17.37 CA$24.70
-38.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$924
$53.4 CA$76.0
-5.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$204
$10.47 CA$14.89
6.02%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$67.8
$3.81 CA$5.42
-3.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.27
$1.70 CA$2.42
-2.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$23.96
$1.17 CA$1.67
11.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.0
$3.59 CA$5.10
-7.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$5.62 CA$7.99
-1.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.52
$1.94 CA$2.76
-8.76%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.1
$2.22 CA$3.16
37.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.01
$1.90 CA$2.70
5.79%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$50.9
$2.99 CA$4.25
-7.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$219
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$11.70 CA$16.64
-20.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$276
$6.81 CA$9.68
120.56%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.6
$3.69 CA$5.25
-16.53%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.79
$1.26 CA$1.80
54.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.35
$2.33 CA$3.31
-12.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.71
$3.26 CA$4.63
-32.21%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.23
$2.05 CA$2.92
-1.46%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.50
$1.96 CA$2.79
-7.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$27.93
$2.87 CA$4.08
-47.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.54
$1.48 CA$2.11
-13.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$96.9
$13.44 CA$19.11
-60.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$296
$14.53 CA$20.66
10.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$35.87
$2.40 CA$3.41
-18.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.2
$3.19 CA$4.54
33.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.79
$3.04 CA$4.32
-89.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$365
$89.3 CA$127
-77.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.75
$3.31 CA$4.71
-39.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.81
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$103
$18.60 CA$26.44
-69.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$27.94
$1.13 CA$1.61
34.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$386.7K
$28.1K CA$40.0K
-25.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$463.0K
$18.1K CA$25.8K
38.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,149
$125 CA$178
-50.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$529
$26.20 CA$37.26
9.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$633
$45.69 CA$65.0
-24.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,050
$42.62 CA$60.6
33.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$456
$21.28 CA$30.26
16.59%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$10.19 CA$14.49
-34.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,924
$870 CA$1,237
-50.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$215.9K
$27.5K CA$39.0K
-57.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,302
$43.21 CA$61.4
63.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$953
$37.22 CA$52.9
39.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,001
$91.1 CA$130
19.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,065
$105 CA$149
7.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.3K
$1,554 CA$2,210
-32.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.2K
$1,391 CA$1,978
-52.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.1K
$2,699 CA$3,838
-13.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.6K
$2,236 CA$3,179
-45.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.3K
$5,896 CA$8,382
-39.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.4K
$5,309 CA$7,549
-62.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Markham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$17.9K
$3,132 CA$4,453
-68.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.56
147.81%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Markham: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Markham
$1.4K 109% $726
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Markham
$279 * 13.7% $44
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Markham
$257 26.5% $54
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Markham
$124 19.6% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Markham
$197 57% $72
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Markham
$63 10.6% $7.4
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Markham
$105 * 307% $79

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $1,554 in Markham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Markham pays 221% 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: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $53.0 in Markham. Groceries flip the comparison at $323 vs $279, with Markham cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇨🇦 Markham
🕒 Local time
17:28 5:28 PM
19:28 7:28 PM
2 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
338,503
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 18.39 MXN (100 MXN = 5.44 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Markham 3,280 km ≈ 4 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Markham

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 54% 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 in Markham?
On paper, salaries run 221% lower in Markham. 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 compared to Markham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $1,554 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 in Markham?
Childcare runs $431 in Mexico City versus $870 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 in Markham?
Shoppers in Markham pay roughly 16% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Markham?
At $1,567 in Mexico City versus $2,416 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 $1,567 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 54% less than in Markham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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