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