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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $92.1 in Planken.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $143 in Planken.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $193 in Planken.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1471% more expensive than Planken, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Planken is 93% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MX$27.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$7.35 CHF 5.84

-94.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$61.3 CHF 48.70

-68.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K MX$325.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$402.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.02 MX$704

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.92 MX$462

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$12.6K CHF 10.0K

-91.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

8.1

40.00%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Planken: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Planken pays 1040% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Planken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Planken differ by about 1471% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $92.1 including rent). Planken is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Planken earns 1040% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

A monthly transit pass in Planken runs roughly 222% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $92.1 in Planken – a 1471% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $92.1 in Planken versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Planken but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Planken the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Planken are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Planken gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1471% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.