Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Perm Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Perm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,068 in Perm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,611 in Perm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,153 in Perm.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 36% more expensive than Perm, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Perm is 20% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96 MX$223
$8.98 ₽650
44.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3 MX$900
$32.35 ₽2,344
61.76%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 MX$167
$5.48 ₽397
76.82%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$64.6
$2.31 ₽167
62.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$26.91
$0.92 ₽66.8
69.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$19.93
$0.43 ₽31.31
169.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 MX$55.8
$1.26 ₽91.3
157.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 MX$84.3
$2.50 ₽181
96.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.29
$0.95 ₽68.5
78.95%
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 MX$45.90
$0.64 ₽46.36
317.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.49
$1.45 ₽105
30.34%
Eggs
$2.52 MX$43.37
$1.75 ₽127
44.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 MX$172
$9.39 ₽680
6.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 MX$147
$4.48 ₽325
90.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$205
$9.96 ₽722
19.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.1
$1.70 ₽123
74.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MX$30.88
$1.88 ₽136
-4.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.40
$1.73 ₽126
15.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.74
$2.45 ₽177
-20.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.21
$0.99 ₽72.1
118.18%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.04
$0.86 ₽62.1
163.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.14
$1.08 ₽78.4
29.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.18
$0.67 ₽48.86
65.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$72.2
$3.13 ₽227
34.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 MX$285
$9.89 ₽717
67.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.94
$1.03 ₽74.3
63.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 MX$61.8
$1.95 ₽141
84.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.65
$0.49 ₽35.23
-20.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$330
$23.07 ₽1,672
-16.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.77
$1.83 ₽133
-24.59%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.19
$0.19 ₽13.79
57.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.7
$4.67 ₽339
15.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 MX$22.13
$0.74 ₽54.0
74.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$325.1K
$31.8K ₽2.3M
-40.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$409.5K
$37.8K ₽2.7M
-36.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$686
$103 ₽7,454
-61.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83 MX$479
$5.97 ₽432
366.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77 MX$512
$9.35 ₽677
218.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$894
$30.48 ₽2,208
70.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22 MX$451
$17.06 ₽1,236
53.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$108
$5.10 ₽369
22.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 MX$7,443
$339 ₽24.6K
27.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$181.3K
$4,806 ₽348.2K
119.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 MX$981
$99.3 ₽7,192
-42.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33 MX$780
$39.50 ₽2,862
14.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,753
$143 ₽10.4K
-29.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,867
$148 ₽10.7K
-26.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 MX$17.1K
$542 ₽39.3K
83.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 MX$10.6K
$362 ₽26.2K
70.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 MX$35.9K
$828 ₽60.0K
152.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 MX$21.6K
$582 ₽42.2K
115.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,936 MX$67.7K
$2,664 ₽193.0K
47.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,089 MX$35.9K
$1,845 ₽133.7K
13.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Perm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,131 MX$19.5K
$978 ₽70.9K
15.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
17.62
-35.64%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026

Last update for Perm: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $542 in Perm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 16% 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 $32.00 in Perm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $194 per month, with Perm 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 Perm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Perm?
Mexico City and Perm differ by about 36% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $1,068 including rent). Perm is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Perm?
Mexico City pays 16% 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 Perm?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $542 in Perm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Perm?
A monthly transit pass in Perm runs roughly 20% 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 Perm?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $339 in Perm. 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 $1,068 in Perm versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Perm but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Perm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Perm?
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 Perm safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Perm 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 Perm?
Expats usually find Perm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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