๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $352 in Ratlam.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $522 in Ratlam.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $691 in Ratlam.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 316% more expensive than Ratlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Ratlam is 74% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$1.96โน184
578.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$6.80โน638
691.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$2.95โน277
219.32%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$1.58โน148
127.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.36โน33.99
350.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.13โน12.42
761.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$2.19โน206
48.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$5.30โน497
-12.26%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$0.62โน58.2
164.52%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$0.48โน45.09
452.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$0.72โน67.5
172.22%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$0.82โน77.0
209.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$4.90โน460
103.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$2.31โน217
263.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$2.36โน222
21.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$0.45โน42.39
284.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$1.01โน94.8
97.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$0.80โน74.9
156.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$0.16โน14.95
1187.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$0.22โน20.51
936.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$0.50โน46.76
190.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$0.34โน31.71
220.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$3.57โน335
19.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$5.19โน487
182.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$1.61โน151
9.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$2.24โน210
59.37%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.64โน530
-
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$0.28โน26.01
35.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
$8.62โน809
117.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$0.70โน65.9
98.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$1.49โน140
263.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$1.18โน111
13.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$15.3Kโน1.4M
22.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$19.9Kโน1.9M
16.31%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$28.76โน2,700
40.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$3.96โน371
585.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$5.89โน553
400.17%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$5.91โน555
792.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
$6.90โน648
279.28%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$3.42โน321
80.70%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$62.3โน5,849
607.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$1,092โน102.5K
879.56%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$7.91โน743
623.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$9.39โน881
379.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$17.64โน1,656
486.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$29.04โน2,726
274.41%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$136โน12.7K
636.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$92.2โน8,655
585.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$175โน16.4K
1126.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$144โน13.5K
772.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$969โน91.0K
286.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$517โน48.5K
360.84%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
$401โน37.6K
169.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.1
24.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Ratlam: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $136 in Ratlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 169% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $7 in Ratlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $96 per month, with Ratlam 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 Ratlam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Ratlam?
Mexico City and Ratlam differ by about 316% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $352 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Ratlam?
Mexico City pays 169% 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 Ratlam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $136 in Ratlam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Ratlam?
A monthly transit pass in Ratlam runs roughly 117% 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 Ratlam?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $62.3 in Ratlam. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $352 in Ratlam versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ratlam but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ratlam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ratlam?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Ratlam safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ratlam 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 Ratlam?
Expats usually find Ratlam gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 316% 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