😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,204 in Paszto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,813 in Paszto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,422 in Paszto.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 23% more expensive than Paszto, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Paszto is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$11.44Ft 3,568
13.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$48.29Ft 15.1K
9.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$7.97Ft 2,485
21.96%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.59Ft 808
44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.38Ft 431
13.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.94Ft 292
20.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.57Ft 803
23.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.54Ft 792
83.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.12Ft 349
44.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.52Ft 474
78.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.85Ft 578
1.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.81Ft 877
-10.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.30Ft 2,900
8.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.72Ft 1,786
44.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$11.11Ft 3,467
7.47%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.17Ft 678
31.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.02Ft 631
-13.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.02Ft 631
2.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$4.34Ft 1,355
-54.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.34Ft 418
61.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.32Ft 413
65.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.50Ft 467
-7.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.49Ft 153
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$7.44Ft 2,320
-43.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$4.80Ft 1,496
196.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.09Ft 341
61.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.19Ft 372
209.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.12Ft 349
-65.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$24.71Ft 7,710
-24.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$2.86Ft 892
-51.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.16Ft 361
-74.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$17.36Ft 5,417
-68.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.68Ft 525
-19.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$31.9KFt 10.0M
-40.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$36.6KFt 11.4M
-36.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$145Ft 45.1K
-71.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$29.72Ft 9,272
-7.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$24.41Ft 7,617
24.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$47.25Ft 14.7K
13.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$16.74Ft 5,224
57.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.71Ft 2,407
-18.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$461Ft 143.9K
-5.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$6,775Ft 2.1M
54.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$90.8Ft 28.3K
-37.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$25.67Ft 8,008
74.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$94.7Ft 29.6K
8.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$104Ft 32.3K
4.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$438Ft 136.6K
128.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$349Ft 108.7K
78.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$646Ft 201.6K
230.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$526Ft 164.3K
134.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$3,125Ft 974.9K
23.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$2,507Ft 782.1K
-6.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$771Ft 240.6K
38.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8
41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Paszto: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $438 in Paszto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 38% 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 $48.00 in Paszto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $224 per month, with Paszto 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 Paszto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Paszto?
Mexico City and Paszto differ by about 23% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,204 including rent). Paszto is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Paszto?
Mexico City pays 38% 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 Paszto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $438 in Paszto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Paszto?
A monthly transit pass in Paszto runs roughly 32% 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 Paszto?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $461 in Paszto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,204 in Paszto versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Paszto but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Paszto the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Paszto?
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 Paszto safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Paszto 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 Paszto?
Expats usually find Paszto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% 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