😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,117 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,701 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,285 in Pascani.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 33% more expensive than Pascani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Pascani is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$12.43RON 54.2
4.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$51.4RON 224
3.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$8.21RON 35.81
18.39%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.54RON 15.44
5.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.94RON 8.47
-19.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$2.04RON 8.87
-44.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$3.27RON 14.24
-2.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.37RON 14.69
38.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.54RON 6.73
5.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.30RON 5.65
108.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.78RON 7.78
5.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$3.27RON 14.26
-23.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.80RON 38.37
14.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.20RON 31.38
15.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$12.11RON 52.8
-1.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.14RON 4.98
150.88%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.71RON 7.44
2.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.61RON 7.00
29.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$2.52RON 10.99
-21.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.03RON 4.48
109.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.02RON 4.45
113.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.86RON 3.77
61.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.83RON 3.61
34.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$5.83RON 25.44
-27.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$6.73RON 29.36
111.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.11RON 4.83
58.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.64RON 7.15
124.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.72RON 3.14
-45.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$20.16RON 87.9
-7.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.75RON 3.28
85.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.83RON 3.64
-63.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$7.09RON 30.92
-23.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.65RON 7.18
-18.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$28.1KRON 122.5K
-32.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$28.2KRON 123.0K
-17.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$163RON 711
-74.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$8.01RON 34.93
243.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$9.09RON 39.65
234.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$41.67RON 182
28.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$19.25RON 83.9
36.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$10.95RON 47.76
-42.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$454RON 1,979
-3.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$6,592RON 28.7K
58.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$65.7RON 287
-13.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$42.94RON 187
4.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$97.7RON 426
5.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$98.6RON 430
9.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$386RON 1,684
158.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$292RON 1,273
112.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$579RON 2,525
269.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$435RON 1,897
183.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,617RON 7,049
139.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,299RON 5,663
79.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$801RON 3,493
33.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.7
47.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Pascani: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $386 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 33% 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 $51.0 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $223 per month, with Pascani 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 Pascani: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Pascani?
Mexico City and Pascani differ by about 33% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,117 including rent). Pascani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Pascani?
Mexico City pays 33% 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 Pascani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $386 in Pascani. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Pascani?
A monthly transit pass in Pascani runs roughly 8% 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 Pascani?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $454 in Pascani. 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 $1,117 in Pascani versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pascani but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pascani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pascani?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Pascani?
Expats usually find Pascani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% 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