Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pasadena, CA Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pasadena, CA

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,691 in Mexico City versus $4,325 in Pasadena, CA.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $6,376 in Pasadena, CA.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,507 in Mexico City versus $8,427 in Pasadena, CA.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 61% less than in Pasadena, CA, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 25% above, Pasadena, CA 218% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.91 MX$203

$17.96 $17.96

-33.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$878

$85.7 $85.7

-39.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.41 MX$177

$11.90 $11.90

-12.52%

Cappuccino

$3.94 MX$67.0

$4.78 $4.78

-17.57%

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

$1.65 MX$28.11

$3.32 $3.32

-50.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 MX$21.96

$2.59 $2.59

-50.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 MX$59.2

$9.47 $9.47

-63.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.98 MX$102

$11.07 $11.07

-45.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 MX$30.93

$1.33 $1.33

36.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.28 MX$55.9

$4.89 $4.89

-32.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.23

$4.25 $4.25

-51.29%

Eggs

$3.05 MX$51.9

$5.11 $5.11

-40.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.76 MX$217

$13.80 $13.80

-7.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.90 MX$168

$14.83 $14.83

-33.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.11 MX$274

$22.43 $22.43

-28.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.43 MX$58.4

$4.46 $4.46

-23.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.57

$2.41 $2.41

-13.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.09 MX$35.64

$4.66 $4.66

-55.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.51 MX$42.68

$6.00 $6.00

-58.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.45

$5.34 $5.34

-61.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.41

$2.49 $2.49

-23.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 MX$25.63

$1.86 $1.86

-18.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.63

$2.19 $2.19

-39.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 MX$94.1

Wine (Bottle)

$17.82 MX$303

$11.06 $11.06

61.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 MX$34.14

$2.20 $2.20

-8.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.77 MX$81.1

$1.88 $1.88

153.72%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 MX$6.17

$1.84 $1.84

-80.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.77 MX$353

$102 $102

-79.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 MX$35.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.61 MX$10.36

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.79 MX$98.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$27.49

$1.45 $1.45

11.72%

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

$22.9K MX$389.1K

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

$26.3K MX$446.8K

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

$65.7 MX$1,118

$293 $293

-77.61%

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

$29.93 MX$509

$58.4 $58.4

-48.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.04 MX$613

$76.3 $76.3

-52.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$58.6 MX$997

$35.38 $35.38

65.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.07 MX$444

$34.35 $34.35

-24.10%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 MX$117

$18.27 $18.27

-62.34%

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

$448 MX$7,621

$3,954 $3,954

-88.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K MX$223.4K

$15.2K $15.2K

-13.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.3 MX$1,247

$65.7 $65.7

11.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 MX$922

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,909

$77.8 $77.8

44.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$123 MX$2,085

$249 $249

-50.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,102 MX$18.8K

$3,259 $3,259

-66.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$710 MX$12.1K

$2,648 $2,648

-73.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,524 MX$42.9K

$5,732 $5,732

-55.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,343 MX$22.9K

$4,941 $4,941

-72.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,913 MX$66.6K

$8,970 $8,970

-56.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.6K

$8,759 $8,759

-76.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,066 MX$18.1K

$5,357 $5,357

-80.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.35

6.05

87.60%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 10, 2026

Last update for Pasadena, CA: August 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,102 in Mexico City and $3,259 in Pasadena, CA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pasadena, CA pays 403% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $86.0 in Pasadena, CA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $459 per month, with Mexico City 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 Pasadena, CA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Pasadena, CA differ by about 156% in total monthly costs ($1,691 vs $4,325 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 403% lower in Pasadena, CA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,102 in Mexico City versus $3,259 in Pasadena, CA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 393% less than in Pasadena, CA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $448 in Mexico City versus $3,954 in Pasadena, CA. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,691 in Mexico City versus $4,325 in Pasadena, CA, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Pasadena, CA. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 156% less than in Pasadena, CA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.