😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $529 in Rasht.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $763 in Rasht.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $996 in Rasht.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 177% more expensive than Rasht, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Rasht is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.99$3.99
230.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$17.01$17.01
216.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.44$4.44
112.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.63$0.63
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.02$1.02
-
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.30$1.30
173.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.42$0.42
285.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.99$0.99
12.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$0.63$0.63
169.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.48$0.48
466.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.88$1.88
1.60%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.13$1.13
124.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$3.48$3.48
188.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$2.62$2.62
208.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$9.10$9.10
27.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$0.80$0.80
271.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.29$1.29
40.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$0.73$0.73
175.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$0.46$0.46
341.30%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$0.51$0.51
315.69%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.46$0.46
393.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.34$0.34
311.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.25$0.25
352.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$0.57$0.57
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.31$0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.44$1.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$1.65$1.65
158.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.14$0.14
171.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$10.93$10.93
75.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.51$0.51
170.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.24$0.24
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$1.52$1.52
258.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.73$0.73
78.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$72.6K$72.6K
-74.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$53.9K$53.9K
-57.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$13.61$13.61
200.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$2.08$2.08
1188.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$4.55$4.55
558.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$18.74$18.74
177.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$18.55$18.55
44.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$0.99$0.99
536.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$83.3$83.3
423.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$1,981$1,981
425.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$16.11$16.11
251.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$25.15$25.15
76.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$110$110
-6.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$70.2$70.2
50.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$214$214
378.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$200$200
215.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$386$386
454.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$214$214
481.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,223$1,223
219.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$618$618
234.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Rasht
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$211$211
428.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
25.07
-54.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rasht: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $214 in Rasht. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 428% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $17.00 in Rasht for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $98.0 per month, with Rasht 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 Rasht: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Rasht?
Mexico City and Rasht differ by about 177% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $529 including rent). Rasht is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Rasht?
Mexico City pays 428% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Rasht?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $214 in Rasht. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Rasht?
A monthly transit pass in Rasht runs roughly 75% 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 Rasht?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $83.3 in Rasht. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $529 in Rasht versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rasht but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Rasht the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Rasht?
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 Rasht safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Rasht 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 Rasht?
Expats usually find Rasht gentler on the wallet – expenses run 177% 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