😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $369 in Pattoki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $539 in Pattoki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $708 in Pattoki.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 299% more expensive than in Pattoki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Pattoki is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$228
$2.10PKR 583
525.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$927
$8.59PKR 2,385
523.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$162
$5.26PKR 1,458
77.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.80PKR 501
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.15PKR 873
-
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.1
$1.38PKR 382
168.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.80
$0.30PKR 84.5
433.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.37
$0.21PKR 58.9
433.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.4
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.0
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.65
$0.49PKR 137
236.73%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.02
$0.37PKR 104
632.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$0.68PKR 189
180.88%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.87
$0.76PKR 210
240.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$1.44PKR 400
581.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$2.58PKR 717
226.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$207
$3.18PKR 883
275.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.2
$0.34PKR 93.3
767.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.15
$0.34PKR 93.9
411.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.43
$0.58PKR 162
251.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.69
$0.52PKR 143
296.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.25
$0.37PKR 102
481.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.08
$0.34PKR 94.2
564.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.01
$0.34PKR 93.1
308.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.36PKR 101
211.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.83PKR 507
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.34PKR 93.4
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.85PKR 513
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.1
$2.01PKR 557
109.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.62
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.9
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.11
$0.17PKR 47.54
105.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$335
$7.04PKR 1,953
174.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$1.05PKR 291
31.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.53PKR 148
-47.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.4
$1.45PKR 402
264.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.53
$0.99PKR 275
37.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$331.0K
$22.4KPKR 6.2M
-14.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$409.0K
$22.5KPKR 6.2M
5.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$702
$105PKR 29.2K
-61.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$4.65PKR 1,290
488.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$13.56PKR 3,763
124.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$905
$12.35PKR 3,427
322.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$459
$5.79PKR 1,607
357.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$2.68PKR 743
130.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,365
$36.27PKR 10.1K
1071.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$186.0K
$1,751PKR 485.8K
513.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,010
$16.71PKR 4,638
248.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$772
$27.52PKR 7,637
61.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$69.5PKR 19.3K
48.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$29.60PKR 8,215
267.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.6K
$75.9PKR 21.1K
1236.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$52.3PKR 14.5K
1091.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$168PKR 46.6K
1163.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$104PKR 28.9K
1072.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.7K
$908PKR 252.1K
317.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.6K
$480PKR 133.2K
339.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
17.43
-34.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Pattoki: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $75.9 in Pattoki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $9.00 in Pattoki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $57.0 per month, with Pattoki 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 Pattoki: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Pattoki?
Mexico City and Pattoki differ by about 299% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $369 including rent). Pattoki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Pattoki?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $553 in Pattoki to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Pattoki?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $75.9 in Pattoki. 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 Pattoki?
A monthly transit pass in Pattoki runs roughly 174% 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 Pattoki?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $36.27 in Pattoki. 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 $369 in Pattoki versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pattoki but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pattoki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Pattoki?
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 Pattoki?
Expats usually find Pattoki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 299% 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