😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $1,116 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,709 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,301 in Pascani.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 30% more expensive than Pascani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Pascani is 17% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$12.33RON 55.8
5.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$49.71RON 225
5.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$7.92RON 35.82
19.07%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$3.45RON 15.62
3.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.01RON 9.10
-19.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$2.02RON 9.13
-43.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$3.27RON 14.80
-3.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$3.39RON 15.31
43.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.54RON 6.96
10.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.33RON 6.02
98.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.83RON 8.28
3.83%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$3.36RON 15.20
-24.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$8.65RON 39.12
16.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.96RON 31.50
19.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$12.19RON 55.1
-5.09%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.13RON 5.10
168.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.70RON 7.70
0.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.56RON 7.07
31.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$2.52RON 11.38
-18.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.94RON 4.23
119.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.06RON 4.82
104.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.88RON 3.99
59.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.84RON 3.79
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$5.75RON 25.99
-25.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$8.63RON 39.06
78.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.13RON 5.11
47.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.73RON 7.84
113.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.66RON 2.97
-42.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$19.78RON 89.5
-3.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.71RON 3.20
94.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.89RON 4.02
-68.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$7.10RON 32.11
-23.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.60RON 7.24
-20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$28.2KRON 127.6K
-32.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$28.2KRON 127.6K
-16.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$162RON 732
-74.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$7.97RON 36.06
237.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$9.26RON 41.87
220.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$41.58RON 188
25.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$19.02RON 86.1
37.91%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$10.84RON 49.02
-42.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$453RON 2,047
-5.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$6,516RON 29.5K
64.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$68.2RON 309
-16.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$42.58RON 193
5.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$98.4RON 445
6.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$97.9RON 443
8.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$394RON 1,782
152.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$292RON 1,319
113.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$588RON 2,660
261.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$442RON 1,997
183.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,907RON 8,628
104.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$1,528RON 6,912
37.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$773RON 3,496
43.27%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Pascani: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $394 in Pascani. 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $50.0 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $226 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 30% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $1,116 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 43% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $394 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 4% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $453 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 $1,116 in Pascani versus $1,447 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 30% 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