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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,682 per month in Mexico City vs $471 in Mashhad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,599 per month in Mexico City vs $755 in Mashhad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,516 per month in Mexico City vs $1,038 in Mashhad, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 257% more than Mashhad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 23% above the global median, while Mashhad is 66% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.83 MX$200

$2.95 $2.95

301.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.2 MX$884

$18.93 $18.93

175.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.87 MX$184

$4.87 $4.87

123.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.72 $0.72

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$4.03 MX$68.2

$1.09 $1.09

269.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$28.99

$0.43 $0.43

297.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 MX$22.70

$0.26 $0.26

415.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.39 MX$57.5

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.74 MX$97.3

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MX$31.99

$0.55 $0.55

243.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$0.24 $0.24

1220.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 MX$34.74

$1.86 $1.86

10.22%

Eggs

$3.01 MX$51.1

$1.03 $1.03

192.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.61 MX$214

$1.83 $1.83

589.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.94 MX$169

$2.32 $2.32

328.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.00 MX$271

$9.92 $9.92

61.29%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 MX$55.6

$0.81 $0.81

304.94%

Banana (1kg)

$2.06 MX$34.87

$1.35 $1.35

52.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.36

$0.75 $0.75

178.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.50 MX$42.44

$0.59 $0.59

323.73%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$34.76

$0.49 $0.49

318.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 MX$31.70

$0.47 $0.47

297.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.57 MX$26.66

$0.52 $0.52

201.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.64

$0.24 $0.24

479.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.86 $0.86

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 $0.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 $0.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 MX$91.2

$2.67 $2.67

101.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.95 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 MX$34.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.76 MX$80.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MX$6.13

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.80 MX$353

$4.37 $4.37

375.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 MX$34.92

$0.34 $0.34

505.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.55

$0.48 $0.48

16.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.82 MX$98.6

$2.02 $2.02

188.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MX$26.05

$0.82 $0.82

87.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.5K MX$380.6K

$59.8K $59.8K

-62.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K MX$448.7K

$66.1K $66.1K

-59.93%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$66.0 MX$1,118

$12.17 $12.17

442.07%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.98 MX$525

$2.56 $2.56

1110.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.20 MX$613

$27.40 $27.40

32.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.5 MX$975

$19.79 $19.79

190.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.75 MX$453

$14.85 $14.85

80.13%

Cinema Ticket

$7.13 MX$121

$2.02 $2.02

252.97%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$457 MX$7,738

$41.43 $41.43

1002.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K MX$224.5K

$624 $624

2023.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.8 MX$1,285

$19.95 $19.95

280.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.1 MX$917

$38.17 $38.17

41.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 MX$1,974

$95.4 $95.4

22.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,063

$70.2 $70.2

73.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,147 MX$19.4K

$210 $210

446.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$726 MX$12.3K

$152 $152

376.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,503 MX$42.4K

$408 $408

513.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,331 MX$22.6K

$280 $280

376.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,895 MX$66.0K

$1,147 $1,147

239.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,149 MX$36.4K

$678 $678

216.90%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,069 MX$18.1K

$257 $257

316.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

21.6

-47.45%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mashhad: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Mexico City versus $210 in Mashhad. 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 317% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $19.00 in Mashhad. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $92.0 – making Mashhad 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 Mashhad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 257% more than Mashhad, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,523 per month in Mexico City and $707 in Mashhad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mashhad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,682 in Mexico City and $471 in Mashhad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 376% less in Mashhad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Mashhad, where all-in costs run around $471, than in Mexico City at $1,682. In Mashhad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mashhad costs $471 versus $1,682 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mashhad. 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.