😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $1,249 in Permet.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,911 in Permet.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $2,572 in Permet.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 34% more expensive than in Permet, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 24% above, Permet is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$10.12ALL 808
18.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$934
$56.9ALL 4,545
-7.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$11.24ALL 897
4.00%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.4
$2.40ALL 192
61.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$30.94
$2.51ALL 200
-30.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.65
$1.29ALL 103
7.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.4
$3.72ALL 297
-9.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$4.05ALL 323
42.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$31.92
$2.31ALL 184
-21.65%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.5
$1.29ALL 103
138.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.65
$2.47ALL 197
-13.77%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.6
$3.82ALL 305
-21.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$221
$13.73ALL 1,096
-8.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$181
$9.42ALL 752
8.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$281
$17.04ALL 1,361
-6.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$59.8
$1.97ALL 157
72.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.24
$2.54ALL 203
-16.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.59
$2.19ALL 175
-2.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.61
$1.86ALL 148
32.80%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.03
$1.08ALL 86.2
88.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.59
$1.29ALL 103
55.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.15
$1.48ALL 118
7.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.50
$0.77ALL 61.9
72.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.0
$4.83ALL 385
13.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$310
$11.45ALL 914
53.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.61
$1.76ALL 140
14.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.8
$2.08ALL 166
127.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.94
$0.48ALL 38.13
-29.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$373
$19.94ALL 1,592
5.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.28
$3.85ALL 308
-46.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.75
$3.85ALL 307
-84.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$18.83ALL 1,503
-69.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.09
$2.34ALL 187
-32.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$404.6K
$34.8KALL 2.8M
-34.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$466.2K
$36.6KALL 2.9M
-27.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,135
$104ALL 8,292
-38.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$520
$18.89ALL 1,508
55.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$651
$20.89ALL 1,668
76.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,038
$58.7ALL 4,683
0.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$469
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$10.21ALL 815
-31.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,180
$348ALL 27.8K
32.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$236.2K
$8,213ALL 655.7K
62.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,333
$50.3ALL 4,015
49.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$958
$47.81ALL 3,817
13.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,965
$123ALL 9,794
-9.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,160
$116ALL 9,300
4.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.0K
$484ALL 38.6K
133.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.3K
$337ALL 26.9K
107.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.2K
$711ALL 56.8K
243.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.0K
$481ALL 38.4K
170.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.1K
$1,883ALL 150.3K
107.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.6K
$1,275ALL 101.8K
62.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Permet
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.6K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.64
100.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Permet: September 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $484 in Permet. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $57.0 in Permet. Groceries flip the comparison at $343 vs $301, with Permet cheaper for home cooking.
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 Permet: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Permet?
Mexico City and Permet differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $1,249 including rent). Permet 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 Permet?
You'd need roughly $2,502 in Mexico City and $1,874 in Permet 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 Permet?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $484 in Permet. 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 Permet?
A monthly transit pass in Permet runs roughly 6% 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 Permet?
Childcare runs $463 in Mexico City versus $348 in Permet. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,249 in Permet versus $1,668 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Permet but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Permet the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Permet?
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 Permet?
Expats usually find Permet gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% 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