Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pasig Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Pasig

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $860 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,403 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,947 in Pasig.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 71% more expensive than in 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
$13.14 MX$229
$4.52 ₱277
190.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5 MX$934
$26.63 ₱1,635
101.01%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.33 MX$163
$3.30 ₱203
182.73%
Cappuccino
$3.70 MX$64.5
$2.75 ₱169
34.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 MX$27.98
$0.69 ₱42.67
131.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$0.38 ₱23.19
194.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.14 MX$54.7
$1.47 ₱90.1
113.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85 MX$84.5
$2.70 ₱166
79.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.84
$1.91 ₱117
-13.61%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.34
$1.34 ₱82.3
102.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.29
$1.09 ₱67.0
75.23%
Eggs
$2.59 MX$45.17
$2.21 ₱136
17.19%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MX$171
$9.09 ₱558
7.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.43 MX$147
$4.37 ₱268
92.91%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MX$208
$8.62 ₱529
38.40%
Apples (1kg)
$2.95 MX$51.5
$3.43 ₱211
-13.99%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 MX$30.35
$1.83 ₱112
-4.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 MX$35.66
$3.55 ₱218
-42.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.93
$1.72 ₱106
19.77%
Potato (1kg)
$2.15 MX$37.49
$2.76 ₱170
-22.10%
Onion (1kg)
$2.26 MX$39.33
$3.08 ₱189
-26.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.17
$2.06 ₱126
-32.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.47
$0.71 ₱43.58
57.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22 MX$73.6
$3.22 ₱197
31.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.51 MX$305
$9.52 ₱584
83.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 MX$29.82
$1.45 ₱89.1
17.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 MX$63.4
$2.11 ₱130
72.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 MX$6.15
$0.28 ₱17.37
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.32 MX$337
$6.23 ₱383
210.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$24.00
$0.90 ₱55.4
53.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.81
$0.24 ₱14.74
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.28 MX$92.0
$2.09 ₱128
152.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 MX$23.69
$1.16 ₱71.0
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1K MX$333.2K
$26.1K ₱1.6M
-26.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6K MX$411.7K
$20.5K ₱1.3M
15.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.53 MX$707
$134 ₱8,225
-69.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38 MX$478
$34.45 ₱2,115
-20.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$530
$27.33 ₱1,678
11.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.2 MX$911
$33.58 ₱2,062
55.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48 MX$462
$4.34 ₱266
510.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 MX$108
$6.49 ₱398
-4.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 MX$7,414
$151 ₱9,301
180.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$187.2K
$4,815 ₱295.6K
122.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3 MX$1,017
$48.78 ₱2,995
19.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57 MX$777
$35.44 ₱2,176
25.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,805
$75.4 ₱4,628
37.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,897
$47.09 ₱2,892
130.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,014 MX$17.7K
$349 ₱21.4K
190.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.9K
$201 ₱12.3K
209.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,119 MX$37.0K
$579 ₱35.5K
266.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 MX$21.3K
$503 ₱30.9K
143.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,792 MX$66.1K
$3,307 ₱203.1K
14.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,110 MX$36.8K
$2,594 ₱159.3K
-18.68%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,052 MX$18.4K
$446 ₱27.4K
135.94%
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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Pasig: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $349 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 136% 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 $27.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $233 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 in Pasig?
Mexico City and Pasig differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $860 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?
Average pay runs 136% 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 Pasig?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $349 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 in Pasig?
A monthly transit pass in Pasig runs roughly 210% 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 $425 in Mexico City versus $151 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 $860 in Pasig versus $1,472 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 71% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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