😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $378 in Pattoki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $544 in Pattoki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $711 in Pattoki.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 283% more expensive than Pattoki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Pattoki is 72% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$2.07PKR 575
527.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$9.00PKR 2,502
484.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$5.36PKR 1,489
75.93%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.73PKR 482
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.15PKR 876
-
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.38PKR 385
158.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.30PKR 83.4
436.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.18PKR 49.94
538.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.47PKR 130
261.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.41PKR 113
543.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.69PKR 192
175.36%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$0.76PKR 212
234.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$1.43PKR 398
604.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$2.56PKR 712
223.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$3.14PKR 873
268.47%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.34PKR 94.3
791.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$0.33PKR 92.6
418.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$0.53PKR 148
286.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.52PKR 146
296.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.33PKR 92.5
524.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.34PKR 93.2
538.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.36PKR 101
288.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.36PKR 101
211.11%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.88PKR 523
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.33PKR 93.0
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.91PKR 530
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$1.90PKR 529
125.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.18PKR 48.90
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$7.19PKR 2,000
165.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$1.07PKR 298
28.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.49PKR 136
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$1.38PKR 383
292.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.96PKR 266
33.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$22.3KPKR 6.2M
-15.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$22.2KPKR 6.2M
5.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$103PKR 28.8K
-60.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$4.87PKR 1,355
452.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$13.56PKR 3,769
118.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$12.41PKR 3,451
321.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$5.90PKR 1,639
344.58%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$2.57PKR 715
140.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$36.27PKR 10.1K
1077.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$1,737PKR 482.9K
515.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$16.57PKR 4,607
242.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$28.06PKR 7,802
59.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$68.8PKR 19.1K
51.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$29.38PKR 8,169
260.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$75.4PKR 21.0K
1219.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$51.0PKR 14.2K
1117.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$169PKR 47.0K
1158.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$106PKR 29.4K
1084.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$878PKR 244.2K
344.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$456PKR 126.7K
359.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Pattoki: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $75.4 in Pattoki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $9.00 in Pattoki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 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 Pattoki?
Mexico City and Pattoki differ by about 283% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $378 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 $2,171 in Mexico City and $567 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 Pattoki?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $75.4 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 Pattoki?
A monthly transit pass in Pattoki runs roughly 165% 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 $427 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 $378 in Pattoki versus $1,447 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 283% 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