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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $3,083 in Perth.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $4,303 in Perth.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $5,522 in Perth.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 47% less than in Perth, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 20% above, Perth 124% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11 MX$205
$21.57 A$29.94
-43.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 MX$883
$84.9 A$118
-38.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$184
$11.01 A$15.29
-1.00%
Cappuccino
$4.05 MX$68.5
$4.65 A$6.46
-12.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$28.99
$2.92 A$4.06
-41.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 MX$23.28
$2.26 A$3.14
-38.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$58.6
$8.71 A$12.09
-60.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 MX$98.2
$8.38 A$11.62
-30.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.32
$1.71 A$2.38
8.19%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 MX$54.5
$3.18 A$4.42
1.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.24
$2.10 A$2.92
-0.48%
Eggs
$2.91 MX$49.16
$5.38 A$7.47
-45.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 MX$211
$9.26 A$12.86
34.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$171
$9.39 A$13.03
7.67%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 MX$269
$14.57 A$20.23
9.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 MX$56.0
$4.76 A$6.60
-30.46%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.94
$3.35 A$4.65
-36.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.02
$3.47 A$4.81
-36.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MX$41.36
$5.24 A$7.27
-53.24%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$36.99
$2.98 A$4.13
-26.51%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.19
$1.99 A$2.76
-4.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$2.29 A$3.18
-29.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$22.81
$1.32 A$1.84
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 MX$91.7
$42.45 A$58.9
-87.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.59 MX$297
$12.95 A$17.98
35.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$34.95
$4.56 A$6.32
-54.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 MX$80.2
$3.50 A$4.86
35.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.74
$2.48 A$3.45
-86.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.58 MX$365
$99.6 A$138
-78.34%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 MX$34.48
$3.82 A$5.30
-46.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.77
$1.43 A$1.99
-59.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 MX$101
$40.92 A$56.8
-85.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$1.34 A$1.86
20.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$385.5K
$27.9K A$38.7K
-18.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K MX$450.6K
$31.1K A$43.2K
-14.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,102
$207 A$287
-68.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87 MX$505
$33.06 A$45.88
-9.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 MX$618
$65.1 A$90.3
-43.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 MX$1,031
$57.4 A$79.6
6.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70 MX$451
$21.95 A$30.46
21.64%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 MX$116
$17.10 A$23.73
-59.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 MX$7,662
$2,383 A$3,308
-80.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K MX$226.0K
$24.2K A$33.5K
-44.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 MX$1,267
$78.3 A$109
-4.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 MX$934
$67.5 A$93.7
-18.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 MX$1,920
$122 A$169
-6.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MX$2,073
$159 A$221
-23.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 MX$19.2K
$1,935 A$2,685
-41.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 MX$12.0K
$1,645 A$2,283
-56.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,571 MX$43.4K
$2,839 A$3,940
-9.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 MX$22.2K
$2,261 A$3,138
-42.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,993 MX$67.5K
$8,673 A$12.0K
-53.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 MX$35.4K
$5,918 A$8,213
-64.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Perth
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,047 MX$17.7K
$4,273 A$5,931
-75.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.92
90.88%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Perth: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $1,935 in Perth. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 308% 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 $85.0 in Perth for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $375 per month, with Mexico City 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 Perth: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Perth?
Mexico City and Perth differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $3,083 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 308% lower in Perth. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Perth?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,935 in Perth. 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 Perth?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 362% less than in Perth. 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 Perth?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $2,383 in Perth. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $3,083 in Perth, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Perth?
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 Perth safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Perth 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 Perth?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Perth. 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

Similar cities