😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $875 in Pasig.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,398 in Pasig.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,922 in Pasig.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 70% more expensive than Pasig, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Pasig is 35% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$4.45₱275
191.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$26.14₱1,612
103.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.44₱212
182.56%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.62₱162
43.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.69₱42.43
127.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.40₱24.78
182.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.55₱95.3
105.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.67₱165
74.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.84₱113
-11.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.40₱86.4
93.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.08₱66.8
74.07%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.29₱141
9.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.23₱569
9.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.26₱263
94.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$8.76₱541
36.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.43₱212
-16.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.80₱111
-2.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$3.56₱219
-41.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.72₱106
14.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$2.67₱165
-19.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$3.15₱194
-30.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.95₱120
-28.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.78₱47.87
43.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.33₱206
26.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$9.68₱597
47.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.46₱90.0
20.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.11₱130
74.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.26₱16.01
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$6.12₱377
204.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.90₱55.7
54.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.24₱14.81
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$2.09₱129
159.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.11₱68.6
21.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$26.8K₱1.6M
-29.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$20.3K₱1.2M
14.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$135₱8,354
-69.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$34.75₱2,144
-20.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$27.37₱1,688
11.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$34.29₱2,115
55.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$4.49₱277
485.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$6.52₱402
-3.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$153₱9,456
184.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,694₱289.5K
123.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$47.89₱2,954
18.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$34.94₱2,155
28.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$75.6₱4,661
36.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$46.02₱2,838
134.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$356₱22.0K
180.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$202₱12.4K
207.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$579₱35.7K
268.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$495₱30.5K
149.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$3,390₱209.1K
14.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$2,617₱161.4K
-10.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$465₱28.7K
129.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.5
152.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Pasig: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $356 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 129% 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 $26.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $234 per month, with Pasig 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 Pasig: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Pasig?
Mexico City and Pasig differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $875 including rent). Pasig is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Pasig?
Mexico City pays 129% 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 Pasig?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $356 in Pasig. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Pasig?
A monthly transit pass in Pasig runs roughly 205% 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 Pasig?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $153 in Pasig. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $875 in Pasig versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pasig but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pasig the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pasig?
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.
Is Mexico City or Pasig safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Pasig 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 Pasig?
Expats usually find Pasig gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% 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