😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $678 in Passo Fundo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,120 in Passo Fundo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,562 in Passo Fundo.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 115% more expensive than in Passo Fundo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Passo Fundo is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$5.43R$27.66
140.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$27.20R$138
97.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$6.18R$31.46
56.63%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$0.92R$4.68
306.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.10R$5.60
47.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.52R$2.63
123.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.45R$7.38
122.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$1.78R$9.07
166.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.86R$4.36
91.86%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.45R$7.41
89.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.09R$5.57
71.56%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.07R$10.52
20.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$6.00R$30.56
70.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$4.66R$23.74
77.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$9.28R$47.24
27.37%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.06R$10.47
46.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.73R$3.73
147.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.28R$6.52
56.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.71R$3.59
181.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.10R$5.58
89.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.06R$5.41
114.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.63R$3.23
131.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.62R$3.17
74.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$1.92R$9.80
126.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$7.80R$39.70
117.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$0.75R$3.83
130.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.81R$9.20
97.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.88R$4.47
-55.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$39.13R$199
-52.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$1.11R$5.65
19.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.05R$5.36
-73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$5.30R$27.00
-0.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.06R$5.40
26.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$24.7KR$125.9K
-21.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$27.7KR$141.2K
-14.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$33.94R$173
19.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$6.79R$34.55
295.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$17.31R$88.2
76.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$18.00R$91.6
193.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$21.66R$110
23.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$4.38R$22.32
48.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$314R$1,599
36.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$7,169R$36.5K
46.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$48.41R$246
18.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$54.8R$279
-16.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$80.5R$410
29.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$61.8R$315
74.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$317R$1,613
216.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$177R$900
252.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$636R$3,240
231.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$367R$1,867
232.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$848R$4,318
357.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$630R$3,208
222.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Passo Fundo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$684R$3,483
51.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
10
13.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Passo Fundo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $317 in Passo Fundo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 52% 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 Passo Fundo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $167 per month, with Passo Fundo 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 Passo Fundo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Passo Fundo?
Mexico City and Passo Fundo differ by about 115% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $678 including rent). Passo Fundo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Passo Fundo?
Average pay runs 52% 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 Passo Fundo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $317 in Passo Fundo. 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 Passo Fundo?
A monthly transit pass in Passo Fundo runs roughly 109% 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 Passo Fundo?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $314 in Passo Fundo. 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 $678 in Passo Fundo versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Passo Fundo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Passo Fundo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Passo Fundo?
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 Passo Fundo?
Expats usually find Passo Fundo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 115% 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