😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $890 in Pak Kret.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,441 in Pak Kret.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,992 in Pak Kret.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 67% more expensive than Pak Kret, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Pak Kret is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.01฿98.3
331.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$31.08฿1,016
70.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.18฿202
57.28%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.13฿69.7
76.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.72฿23.65
118.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.27฿8.72
318.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.53฿82.7
25.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.50฿81.7
86.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.74฿56.9
-6.90%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.33฿43.64
103.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.45฿47.49
29.66%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.19฿71.7
14.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$15.61฿510
-35.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.30฿108
151.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$9.54฿312
25.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.40฿111
-15.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.33฿43.40
31.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.96฿64.1
6.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.42฿46.39
38.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.53฿50.1
41.18%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.22฿39.91
78.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.03฿33.62
34.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.53฿17.47
111.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$4.74฿155
-11.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$17.22฿563
-17.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.76฿57.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.33฿76.2
57.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.94฿30.72
-58.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.09฿35.69
27.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.19฿38.86
-74.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$3.46฿113
56.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.29฿42.26
4.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$26.0K฿851.1K
-27.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$26.6K฿869.5K
-12.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$79.3฿2,594
-48.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$12.43฿406
121.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$17.34฿567
75.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$49.94฿1,633
6.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$12.35฿404
112.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.64฿250
-17.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$297฿9,706
46.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$9,336฿305.3K
12.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$30.44฿995
86.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$19.87฿650
125.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$99.6฿3,258
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$44.42฿1,453
142.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$415฿13.6K
141.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$288฿9,429
115.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$816฿26.7K
161.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$655฿21.4K
88.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,358฿77.1K
63.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,374฿44.9K
69.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$770฿25.2K
38.56%
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 Pak Kret: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $415 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 39% 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 $31.00 in Pak Kret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $243 per month, with Pak Kret 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 Pak Kret: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Pak Kret?
Mexico City and Pak Kret differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $890 including rent). Pak Kret is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Pak Kret?
Mexico City pays 39% 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 Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $415 in Pak Kret. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Pak Kret?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $297 in Pak Kret. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pak Kret – a meal for two runs $31.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $890 in Pak Kret versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pak Kret but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pak Kret the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pak Kret?
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 Pak Kret safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Pak Kret 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 Pak Kret?
Expats usually find Pak Kret gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% 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