Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pak Kret Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pak Kret

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $875 in Pak Kret.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,448 in Pak Kret.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,021 in Pak Kret.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 68% more expensive than in 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
$13.14 MX$227
$3.14 ฿105
318.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$926
$30.96 ฿1,033
72.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$161
$6.33 ฿211
47.39%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.0
$2.09 ฿69.6
77.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.76
$0.68 ฿22.68
135.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.34
$0.29 ฿9.70
286.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.3
$2.51 ฿83.9
25.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$83.9
$2.40 ฿80.0
102.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.61
$1.68 ฿56.0
-1.79%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$46.96
$1.35 ฿45.04
100.74%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.03
$1.48 ฿49.43
29.05%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$44.81
$2.26 ฿75.5
14.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$170
$15.56 ฿519
-36.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$146
$3.44 ฿115
145.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$206
$9.59 ฿320
24.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.1
$3.28 ฿110
-10.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.10
$1.28 ฿42.64
35.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.38
$1.88 ฿62.8
8.51%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$1.44 ฿48.09
43.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.20
$1.53 ฿51.1
40.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.02
$1.22 ฿40.65
85.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$23.97
$0.98 ฿32.63
41.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.31
$0.50 ฿16.59
124.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.0
$4.52 ฿151
-6.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$303
$16.48 ฿550
6.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.58
$1.82 ฿60.7
-6.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$62.8
$2.29 ฿76.3
58.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.10
$0.89 ฿29.77
-60.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.80
$1.06 ฿35.51
30.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.77
$1.18 ฿39.48
-76.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$91.3
$3.37 ฿112
56.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.50
$1.29 ฿42.88
5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$330.5K
$26.6K ฿886.0K
-28.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$408.4K
$27.2K ฿905.9K
-13.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$701
$79.6 ฿2,655
-49.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$474
$12.49 ฿417
119.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$526
$17.11 ฿571
77.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$903
$49.59 ฿1,654
5.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$458
$12.42 ฿414
113.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$107
$7.55 ฿252
-18.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,355
$297 ฿9,891
43.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.7K
$9,401 ฿313.6K
14.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,009
$30.36 ฿1,013
92.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$771
$19.57 ฿653
127.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,791
$98.8 ฿3,295
4.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,881
$43.07 ฿1,437
152.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.5K
$423 ฿14.1K
139.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$288 ฿9,600
116.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$36.7K
$819 ฿27.3K
158.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.2K
$647 ฿21.6K
89.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$65.6K
$1,796 ฿59.9K
111.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.5K
$1,560 ฿52.0K
35.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pak Kret
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.2K
$735 ฿24.5K
43.24%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pak Kret: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $423 in Pak Kret. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 43% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $31.00 in Pak Kret for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $240 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 in Pak Kret?
Mexico City and Pak Kret differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $875 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?
Average pay runs 43% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Pak Kret?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $423 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 $425 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 $54.0 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 $875 in Pak Kret versus $1,472 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 68% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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