😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $861 in Nonthaburi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,380 in Nonthaburi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,899 in Nonthaburi.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 72% more expensive than Nonthaburi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Nonthaburi is 36% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.05฿99.9
325.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$21.76฿712
143.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$5.99฿196
62.27%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.09฿68.3
79.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.67฿22.06
134.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.27฿8.76
318.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.96฿64.0
62.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.61฿118
29.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.52฿49.81
6.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.35฿44.05
100.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.20฿39.31
56.67%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.27฿74.4
10.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$18.60฿608
-45.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$2.80฿91.6
196.07%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$9.33฿305
27.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.55฿116
-19.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.74฿56.9
0.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.89฿61.7
10.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.52฿49.80
29.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.66฿54.2
30.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.45฿47.39
50.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.11฿36.20
25.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.49฿16.16
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$4.45฿146
-5.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$15.56฿509
-8.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.80฿58.9
-2.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.36฿110
9.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.89฿29.26
-56.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$36.34฿1,188
-48.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.06฿34.57
31.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.16฿37.79
-74.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$4.10฿134
32.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.28฿41.82
5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$36.7K฿1.2M
-48.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$28.0K฿915.1K
-17.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$90.6฿2,963
-54.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$13.31฿435
106.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$17.04฿557
78.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$53.4฿1,747
0.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$12.27฿401
114.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.29฿206
-0.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$434฿14.2K
0.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$13.1K฿429.3K
-20.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$30.64฿1,002
85.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$39.45฿1,290
13.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$105฿3,438
-2.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$87.9฿2,873
22.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$730฿23.9K
36.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$187฿6,104
232.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$846฿27.7K
152.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$443฿14.5K
178.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,346฿76.7K
64.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Nonthaburi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$772฿25.3K
38.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.84
94.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Nonthaburi: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $730 in Nonthaburi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 38% 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 $22.00 in Nonthaburi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $249 per month, with Nonthaburi 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 Nonthaburi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Nonthaburi?
Mexico City and Nonthaburi differ by about 72% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $861 including rent). Nonthaburi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Nonthaburi?
Mexico City pays 38% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Nonthaburi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $730 in Nonthaburi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Nonthaburi?
A monthly transit pass in Nonthaburi runs roughly 95% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Nonthaburi?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $434 in Nonthaburi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $861 in Nonthaburi versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nonthaburi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Nonthaburi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Nonthaburi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Nonthaburi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Nonthaburi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Nonthaburi?
Expats usually find Nonthaburi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Mexico City. 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