😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,173 in Paszto.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,821 in Paszto.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,469 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 9% above, Paszto is 12% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$11.72Ft 3,521
10.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$48.14Ft 14.5K
8.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$8.21Ft 2,468
18.03%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$2.46Ft 739
52.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$1.37Ft 412
13.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$0.99Ft 298
17.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$2.58Ft 775
25.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$2.64Ft 794
85.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$1.13Ft 339
50.44%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$1.54Ft 464
73.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$1.77Ft 531
6.78%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$2.94Ft 884
-14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$9.45Ft 2,840
6.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$5.67Ft 1,704
50.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$11.00Ft 3,305
8.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$2.22Ft 668
33.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$1.93Ft 581
-7.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$2.05Ft 615
-2.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$4.19Ft 1,260
-53.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.41Ft 423
53.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$1.32Ft 398
71.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$1.47Ft 443
-4.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$0.53Ft 158
109.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$7.37Ft 2,215
-43.01%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$4.95Ft 1,486
234.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$1.14Ft 344
47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$1.20Ft 360
199.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$1.14Ft 342
-65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$25.53Ft 7,672
-24.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$2.85Ft 858
-51.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$1.15Ft 345
-73.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$17.29Ft 5,196
-68.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$1.70Ft 511
-24.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$31.6KFt 9.5M
-40.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$36.6KFt 11.0M
-35.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$148Ft 44.5K
-73.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$30.04Ft 9,026
-7.36%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$24.14Ft 7,253
23.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$47.32Ft 14.2K
9.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$17.12Ft 5,143
53.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$7.90Ft 2,374
-20.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$456Ft 137.0K
-5.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$6,852Ft 2.1M
53.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$88.4Ft 26.6K
-35.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$26.30Ft 7,903
72.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$94.1Ft 28.3K
8.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$108Ft 32.3K
0.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$444Ft 133.3K
124.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$341Ft 102.4K
80.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$630Ft 189.4K
230.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$530Ft 159.3K
136.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$3,052Ft 917.0K
28.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$2,593Ft 779.3K
-19.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Paszto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$782Ft 235.1K
44.61%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Paszto: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $444 in Paszto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 45% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $48.00 in Paszto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 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 ($1,448 vs $1,173 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 45% 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: $994 in Mexico City versus $444 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 33% 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 $433 in Mexico City versus $456 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 $1,173 in Paszto versus $1,448 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