Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Putra Heights Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Putra Heights

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $888 in Putra Heights.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,341 in Putra Heights.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,794 in Putra Heights.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 65% more expensive than Putra Heights, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Putra Heights is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$3.64 MYR 14.42
262.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$19.10 MYR 75.7
182.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$4.60 MYR 18.25
104.78%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$3.01 MYR 11.94
17.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$0.83 MYR 3.30
95.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$0.45 MYR 1.80
146.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$4.20 MYR 16.64
-25.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$5.81 MYR 23.03
-20.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$1.80 MYR 7.15
-5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$0.98 MYR 3.89
177.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$1.23 MYR 4.89
55.28%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$1.82 MYR 7.22
39.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$14.43 MYR 57.2
-30.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$4.75 MYR 18.82
70.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$9.40 MYR 37.29
23.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$2.95 MYR 11.69
0.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$1.53 MYR 6.08
18.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$2.64 MYR 10.47
-23.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$1.48 MYR 5.85
37.16%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$1.23 MYR 4.89
72.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$1.34 MYR 5.33
69.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$1.16 MYR 4.59
20.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$0.53 MYR 2.08
113.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$4.12 MYR 16.35
3.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$14.41 MYR 57.2
7.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$2.88 MYR 11.43
-38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$2.89 MYR 11.46
24.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.73 MYR 2.91
-47.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$11.83 MYR 46.90
62.13%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$1.15 MYR 4.58
20.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.98 MYR 3.90
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$4.84 MYR 19.18
12.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$0.49 MYR 1.94
165.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$35.6K MYR 141.1K
-47.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$32.4K MYR 128.6K
-28.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$63.4 MYR 251
-35.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$9.10 MYR 36.08
194.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$25.15 MYR 99.7
19.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$36.34 MYR 144
43.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$5.75 MYR 22.80
366.78%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$5.26 MYR 20.85
19.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$191 MYR 758
128.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$6,843 MYR 27.1K
52.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$60.2 MYR 239
-5.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$19.06 MYR 75.6
132.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$74.0 MYR 293
39.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$40.20 MYR 159
162.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$382 MYR 1,516
167.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$266 MYR 1,054
137.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$638 MYR 2,531
234.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$467 MYR 1,851
166.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$1,696 MYR 6,724
130.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$880 MYR 3,491
134.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Putra Heights
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$1,141 MYR 4,524
-2.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.07
178.62%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Putra Heights: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $382 in Putra Heights. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Putra Heights pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $19.00 in Putra Heights for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $244 per month, with Putra Heights 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 Putra Heights: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Putra Heights?
Mexico City and Putra Heights differ by about 65% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $888 including rent). Putra Heights is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Putra Heights earns 2% less. 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 Putra Heights?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $382 in Putra Heights. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Putra Heights?
A monthly transit pass in Putra Heights runs roughly 62% 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 Putra Heights?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $191 in Putra Heights. 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 $888 in Putra Heights versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Putra Heights but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Putra Heights the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Putra Heights?
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 Putra Heights safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Putra Heights 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 Putra Heights?
Expats usually find Putra Heights gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% 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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