๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $522 in Pardis.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,342 in Mexico City versus $808 in Pardis.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Mexico City versus $1,095 in Pardis.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 185% more expensive than Pardis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Pardis is 61% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$3.02$3.02
340.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$17.81$17.81
201.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$4.88$4.88
90.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.62$0.62
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02$1.02
-
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$0.49$0.49
636.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$0.46$0.46
239.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$0.51$0.51
119.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
-
-
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$0.64$0.64
165.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$0.52$0.52
432.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$1.93$1.93
1.55%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$1.20$1.20
116.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$2.51$2.51
296.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$1.98$1.98
309.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$10.06$10.06
14.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$0.86$0.86
233.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$1.01$1.01
71.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$0.49$0.49
308.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$0.62$0.62
229.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$0.10$0.10
1980.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$0.54$0.54
307.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$0.63$0.63
130.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.25$0.25
328.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.01$1.01
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55$0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.03$1.03
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$2.43$2.43
75.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$0.20$0.20
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$10.19$10.19
88.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$0.49$0.49
173.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.27$0.27
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$1.03$1.03
417.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.72$0.72
86.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$81.3K$81.3K
-76.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$55.3K$55.3K
-56.79%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$15.52$15.52
156.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$1.95$1.95
1273.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$5.81$5.81
405.34%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$15.99$15.99
234.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
$12.38$12.38
110.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$1.53$1.53
318.30%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$125$125
252.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$1,931$1,931
456.69%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$30.94$30.94
86.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$34.30$34.30
31.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$122$122
-14.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$69.3$69.3
55.76%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$280$280
261.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$200$200
215.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$624$624
246.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$319$319
282.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
$1,057$1,057
258.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
$627$627
272.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pardis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$202$202
431.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
24
-52.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Last update for Pardis: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Mexico City and $280 in Pardis. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 431% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $18 in Pardis for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $94 per month, with Pardis 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 Pardis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Pardis?
Mexico City and Pardis differ by about 185% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $522 including rent). Pardis is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Pardis?
Mexico City pays 431% 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 Pardis?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Mexico City versus $280 in Pardis. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Pardis?
A monthly transit pass in Pardis runs roughly 88% 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 Pardis?
Childcare runs $440 in Mexico City versus $125 in Pardis. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $522 in Pardis versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pardis but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pardis the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pardis?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Pardis safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Pardis 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 Pardis?
Expats usually find Pardis gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 185% 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