😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $718 in Pasig.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,200 in Pasig.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,682 in Pasig.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 134% more expensive than in Pasig, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Pasig is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$3.97₱249
205.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$25.72₱1,613
109.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$2.74₱172
304.74%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$2.31₱145
77.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.66₱41.67
154.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.31₱19.68
348.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$1.14₱71.4
192.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$2.69₱169
118.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$1.67₱104
10.78%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.16₱73.0
173.28%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.03₱64.4
100.97%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$2.07₱130
41.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$5.70₱357
120.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$3.37₱211
200.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$7.68₱481
109.51%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$3.20₱201
5.94%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.56₱97.7
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$2.96₱186
-28.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$1.70₱107
41.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$2.35₱147
-9.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$2.60₱163
-22.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$2.17₱136
-28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.55₱34.55
147.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$2.89₱181
99.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$9.55₱599
85.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$1.35₱84.4
53.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$2.01₱126
129.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.50₱31.12
-26.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$0.77₱48.31
166.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.21₱13.11
176.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$1.92₱121
216.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$1.14₱71.4
35.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$21.1K₱1.3M
8.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$19.1K₱1.2M
42.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$123₱7,733
-45.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$17.58₱1,102
74.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$23.97₱1,503
55.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$30.49₱1,911
101.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$6.40₱401
11.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$133₱8,318
243.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$9,084₱569.4K
50.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$34.53₱2,165
114.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$27.89₱1,749
104.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$72.8₱4,563
58.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$54.8₱3,437
121.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$277₱17.4K
313.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$129₱8,061
451.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$520₱32.6K
395.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$477₱29.9K
171.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$3,260₱204.3K
22.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$2,540₱159.3K
-16.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$440₱27.6K
145.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.75
67.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Pasig: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $277 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 146% 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 $26.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $201 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 134% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $718 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 146% 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $277 in Pasig. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Pasig?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $133 in Pasig. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pasig – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $718 in Pasig versus $1,677 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 134% 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