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: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $876 in Pasig.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,408 in Pasig.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,939 in Pasig.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 65% more expensive than Pasig, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Pasig is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$223
$4.47 ₱271
190.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6 MX$903
$26.77 ₱1,625
96.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 MX$162
$3.28 ₱199
187.50%
Cappuccino
$3.57 MX$61.3
$2.62 ₱159
36.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$0.66 ₱39.90
143.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$19.81
$0.40 ₱24.42
187.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$54.0
$1.49 ₱90.4
111.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 MX$83.4
$2.60 ₱158
86.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.17
$1.91 ₱116
-10.99%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$45.23
$1.39 ₱84.5
89.93%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.67
$1.07 ₱65.2
77.57%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.62
$2.19 ₱133
15.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$173
$9.10 ₱553
10.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$142
$4.13 ₱251
100.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 MX$199
$8.29 ₱504
39.57%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 MX$52.0
$3.49 ₱212
-13.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.35
$1.84 ₱112
-7.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.16
$3.60 ₱219
-43.06%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.36
$1.75 ₱106
17.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.43
$2.74 ₱166
-24.82%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.25
$3.06 ₱186
-29.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.08
$2.02 ₱122
-30.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.26
$0.71 ₱43.31
57.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MX$73.7
$3.27 ₱198
31.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 MX$265
$9.70 ₱589
58.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.74
$1.44 ₱87.3
15.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 MX$63.3
$2.22 ₱135
66.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.55
$0.28 ₱17.02
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.06 MX$327
$6.04 ₱367
215.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.70
$0.87 ₱52.6
58.62%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.74
$0.22 ₱13.34
27.27%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$92.9
$2.18 ₱132
148.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MX$21.98
$1.16 ₱70.3
10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K MX$325.8K
$26.7K ₱1.6M
-28.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$402.7K
$20.8K ₱1.3M
13.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.02 MX$704
$134 ₱8,150
-69.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92 MX$462
$35.30 ₱2,143
-23.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69 MX$510
$27.34 ₱1,660
8.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 MX$898
$33.96 ₱2,062
54.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23 MX$450
$4.47 ₱271
486.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$106
$6.56 ₱398
-5.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,331
$152 ₱9,223
181.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$183.6K
$4,799 ₱291.4K
122.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$975
$48.37 ₱2,937
17.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 MX$769
$35.10 ₱2,131
27.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MX$1,794
$76.5 ₱4,647
36.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,819
$46.02 ₱2,794
130.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$17.1K
$350 ₱21.2K
184.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$621 MX$10.7K
$199 ₱12.1K
212.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 MX$36.5K
$580 ₱35.2K
266.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 MX$21.5K
$502 ₱30.5K
149.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.0K
$3,353 ₱203.6K
16.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 MX$36.0K
$2,527 ₱153.4K
-17.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pasig
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,107 MX$19.0K
$442 ₱26.9K
150.33%
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pasig: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $350 in Pasig. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 150% 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 $27.00 in Pasig for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $232 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 65% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $876 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 150% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $350 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 216% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $152 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 $876 in Pasig versus $1,447 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 65% 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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