🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,826 in Rockhampton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,827 in Rockhampton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $3,827 in Rockhampton.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 20% less than in Rockhampton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Rockhampton36% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$18.45A$25.85
-28.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$79.0A$111
-31.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$9.16A$12.84
2.84%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$3.83A$5.37
-7.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$2.79A$3.91
-41.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$2.40A$3.36
-53.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$7.20A$10.09
-56.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$5.82A$8.15
-20.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.74A$2.44
-2.30%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.83A$2.57
48.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$2.29A$3.21
-16.59%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$3.16A$4.43
-19.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$6.32A$8.86
58.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$9.59A$13.44
-15.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$14.60A$20.46
-20.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$2.60A$3.64
14.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$4.28A$5.99
-57.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$2.48A$3.47
-18.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$5.25A$7.35
-61.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$2.02A$2.83
4.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$2.03A$2.85
11.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$2.62A$3.67
-46.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$1.30A$1.83
-13.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$32.95A$46.17
-87.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$13.45A$18.84
15.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$3.25A$4.55
-45.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$5.79A$8.11
-37.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$1.61A$2.25
-76.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$58.8A$82.4
-67.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$3.30A$4.63
-58.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$1.62A$2.27
-82.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$36.78A$51.5
-85.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.26A$1.77
3.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$27.5KA$38.5K
-31.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$19.8KA$27.7K
16.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$196A$274
-79.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$21.79A$30.53
23.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$63.9A$89.5
-53.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$47.69A$66.8
9.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$12.87A$18.04
108.55%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$12.89A$18.07
-51.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$1,611A$2,257
-72.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$6,124A$8,581
70.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$68.5A$96.0
-17.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$55.5A$77.7
-19.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$132A$185
-21.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$58.1A$81.4
81.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$772A$1,082
32.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$636A$891
-0.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$1,516A$2,125
40.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,144A$1,603
8.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Rockhampton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$3,783A$5,301
-70.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.65
70.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rockhampton: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $772 in Rockhampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rockhampton pays 239% 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 $79.0 in Rockhampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $334 per month, with Mexico City 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 Rockhampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Rockhampton?
Mexico City and Rockhampton differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,826 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Rockhampton earns 239% 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 Rockhampton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $772 in Rockhampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Rockhampton?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 207% less than in Rockhampton. 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 Rockhampton?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $1,611 in Rockhampton. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,826 in Rockhampton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Rockhampton. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Rockhampton?
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 Rockhampton safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Rockhampton 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 Rockhampton?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Rockhampton. 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