😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $510 in Pattoki.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $729 in Pattoki.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $947 in Pattoki.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 225% more expensive than in Pattoki, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Pattoki is 63% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$2.47PKR 684
382.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$10.66PKR 2,952
384.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$5.32PKR 1,473
114.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.69PKR 744
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.36PKR 1,483
-
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$1.79PKR 495
122.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$0.30PKR 84.0
453.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.19PKR 53.0
600.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$0.68PKR 189
176.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.54PKR 151
501.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.06PKR 294
103.77%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.13PKR 314
156.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$7.03PKR 1,947
82.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$2.49PKR 690
303.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$4.34PKR 1,203
265.44%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$0.91PKR 251
261.54%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$0.48PKR 134
318.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$0.70PKR 194
214.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$0.55PKR 151
329.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$0.39PKR 108
425.64%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$0.47PKR 130
304.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.46PKR 128
250.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.34PKR 95.0
311.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.85PKR 513
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.15PKR 318
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.94PKR 813
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.21PKR 611
147.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.19PKR 52.3
78.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$9.99PKR 2,767
108.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$1.47PKR 407
42.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.37PKR 103
51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$0.88PKR 244
560.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$1.15PKR 317
40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$24.5KPKR 6.8M
-6.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$26.5KPKR 7.3M
0.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$143PKR 39.7K
-54.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$4.85PKR 1,343
520.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$19.28PKR 5,339
92.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$14.97PKR 4,146
299.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.34PKR 1,203
62.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$41.83PKR 11.6K
1010.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$1,019PKR 282.4K
1202.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$18.27PKR 5,060
315.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$18.81PKR 5,210
197.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$91.3PKR 25.3K
22.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$25.78PKR 7,141
367.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$136PKR 37.7K
710.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$75.0PKR 20.8K
860.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$240PKR 66.6K
952.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$144PKR 39.8K
799.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,040PKR 287.9K
283.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$538PKR 149.1K
288.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Pattoki
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
13
-13.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Pattoki: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $136 in Pattoki. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $11.00 in Pattoki for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $89.0 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 225% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $510 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 $2,489 in Mexico City and $765 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: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $136 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 108% 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 $465 in Mexico City versus $41.83 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 $510 in Pattoki versus $1,660 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 225% 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