😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,114 in Pascani.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,735 in Pascani.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,356 in Pascani.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 32% more expensive than in Pascani, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Pascani is 16% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$12.40RON 56.4
5.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$49.86RON 227
7.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$7.98RON 36.27
16.92%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$3.53RON 16.06
4.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$1.93RON 8.79
-17.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$2.03RON 9.24
-44.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$3.12RON 14.20
0.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$3.52RON 16.01
37.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.55RON 7.04
6.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.29RON 5.85
110.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.82RON 8.28
4.95%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$3.29RON 14.96
-21.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$8.74RON 39.73
12.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$7.04RON 31.99
19.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$12.13RON 55.1
-1.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$1.13RON 5.16
161.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.71RON 7.79
1.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.59RON 7.24
28.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$2.49RON 11.33
-17.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$0.97RON 4.40
121.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.07RON 4.88
111.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.94RON 4.29
47.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.78RON 3.53
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$5.87RON 26.67
-28.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$7.82RON 35.54
123.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.11RON 5.03
54.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$1.72RON 7.81
111.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.71RON 3.21
-50.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$19.93RON 90.6
-3.06%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$0.77RON 3.51
79.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.89RON 4.05
-68.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$6.88RON 31.27
-23.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$1.61RON 7.34
-15.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$28.0KRON 127.3K
-31.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$28.3KRON 128.5K
-16.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$162RON 737
-74.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$8.14RON 37.03
236.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$8.80RON 40.02
245.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$40.83RON 186
27.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$18.93RON 86.1
39.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$10.90RON 49.53
-43.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$451RON 2,050
-5.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$6,633RON 30.2K
61.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$66.2RON 301
-11.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$43.40RON 197
2.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$95.4RON 434
8.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$99.3RON 451
9.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$383RON 1,740
164.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$290RON 1,318
114.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$589RON 2,676
260.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$438RON 1,993
179.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
$2,133RON 9,699
77.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
$1,385RON 6,295
52.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pascani
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
$761RON 3,458
38.32%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Pascani: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $383 in Pascani. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 38% 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 $50.0 in Pascani for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $224 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 in Pascani?
Mexico City and Pascani differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $1,114 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?
Average pay runs 38% 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 Pascani?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $383 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 in Pascani?
A monthly transit pass in Pascani runs roughly 3% 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 $425 in Mexico City versus $451 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 $1,114 in Pascani versus $1,472 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 32% 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