😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $356 in Ratlam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $525 in Ratlam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $695 in Ratlam.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 314% more expensive than in Ratlam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Ratlam is 73% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$1.90₹182
591.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
$6.83₹653
683.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
$2.97₹284
214.14%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$1.57₹150
135.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$0.34₹32.21
370.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.16₹14.99
600.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$2.24₹214
40.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$5.29₹506
-8.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$0.66₹62.7
150.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$0.49₹46.59
453.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$0.72₹68.8
165.28%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$0.83₹79.3
212.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
$4.71₹450
108.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$2.40₹229
251.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$2.38₹227
23.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$0.45₹43.15
286.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$0.95₹90.8
114.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$0.77₹73.8
167.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$0.17₹16.67
1164.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$0.22₹20.92
927.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
$0.54₹51.9
157.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.36₹34.82
211.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
$3.41₹326
23.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$7.85₹750
123.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$1.54₹148
11.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$2.24₹214
62.05%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
-
$5.58₹534
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
$0.30₹29.04
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
$8.76₹838
120.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
$0.64₹60.9
115.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$1.47₹140
259.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$1.16₹111
17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$15.2K₹1.5M
25.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$20.5K₹2.0M
15.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$29.64₹2,835
36.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$3.90₹373
602.05%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$5.64₹540
438.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
$5.83₹558
795.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
$6.92₹662
282.66%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
$3.58₹343
72.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
$62.2₹5,950
583.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
$1,118₹106.9K
860.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$8.19₹783
611.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$9.38₹897
375.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$17.61₹1,684
487.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$28.77₹2,752
277.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
$138₹13.2K
632.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$93.5₹8,944
565.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
$174₹16.6K
1117.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
$143₹13.6K
758.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$2,257₹215.9K
68.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
$684₹65.4K
208.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ratlam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
$388₹37.1K
171.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.1
24.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ratlam: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $138 in Ratlam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 171% 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 $7.00 in Ratlam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $101 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 in Ratlam?
Mexico City and Ratlam differ by about 314% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $356 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Ratlam?
Average pay runs 171% higher in Mexico City, 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 in Ratlam?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $138 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 in Ratlam?
A monthly transit pass in Ratlam runs roughly 121% 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 $425 in Mexico City versus $62.2 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 $356 in Ratlam versus $1,472 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 – 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 – expenses run 314% 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