😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $423 in Patna.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $656 in Patna.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $890 in Patna.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 247% more expensive than Patna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Patna is 68% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$2.32₹222
468.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$10.00₹957
439.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.54₹339
166.10%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.40₹134
153.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.37₹35.24
337.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.14₹13.11
692.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.33₹223
33.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$9.20₹880
-49.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.65₹61.9
161.54%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.45₹43.09
504.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.58₹55.1
229.31%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.15₹110
120.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$6.90₹660
45.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$2.66₹255
204.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.34₹128
121.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$0.82₹78.2
120.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.11₹106
81.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$0.55₹52.9
269.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.35₹33.67
505.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.51₹49.16
345.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.48₹45.55
191.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.34₹32.82
232.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$2.59₹248
64.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$6.23₹596
149.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$2.00₹192
-12.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$2.32₹222
55.17%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$6.66₹638
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.37₹35.01
2.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$4.71₹451
307.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$1.17₹112
17.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$2.27₹217
140.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.23₹117
5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$15.3K₹1.5M
21.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$32.9K₹3.2M
-29.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$44.20₹4,230
-7.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$3.17₹303
745.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$7.23₹692
314.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$27.34₹2,617
90.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$7.58₹726
254.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$3.86₹370
63.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$49.99₹4,784
772.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$1,834₹175.5K
467.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$26.50₹2,536
113.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$27.64₹2,645
60.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$41.94₹4,014
145.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$37.02₹3,543
185.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$123₹11.8K
732.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$75.0₹7,180
740.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$295₹28.3K
623.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$181₹17.3K
586.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$1,289₹123.4K
202.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$504₹48.2K
309.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Patna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$356₹34.0K
213.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.05
25.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Patna: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $123 in Patna. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 214% 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 $10.00 in Patna for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $106 per month, with Patna 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 Patna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Patna?
Mexico City and Patna differ by about 247% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $423 including rent). Patna is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Patna?
Mexico City pays 214% 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 Patna?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $123 in Patna. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Patna?
A monthly transit pass in Patna runs roughly 307% 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 Patna?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $49.99 in Patna. 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 $423 in Patna versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Patna but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Patna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Patna?
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 Patna?
Expats usually find Patna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 247% 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