😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $964 in Shakhty.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $1,472 in Shakhty.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $1,981 in Shakhty.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 54% more expensive than in Shakhty, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Shakhty is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16MX$229
$9.66₽751
36.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$934
$37.46₽2,912
43.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55MX$167
$5.56₽432
71.76%
Cappuccino
$3.72MX$64.9
$2.30₽178
61.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.33
$1.09₽84.4
44.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.16
$0.48₽37.05
141.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.5
$1.40₽109
127.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$2.48₽193
86.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.74
$1.10₽85.4
55.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.63
$0.70₽54.8
274.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.93
$1.37₽106
37.96%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.26
$1.77₽138
46.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91MX$173
$10.65₽828
-6.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22MX$143
$4.79₽373
71.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78MX$205
$8.88₽690
32.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00MX$52.2
$1.81₽141
65.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.38
$1.81₽141
-0.55%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.16
$2.01₽156
2.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.30
$2.75₽214
-28.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.13
$0.85₽66.0
143.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.92
$0.66₽51.4
228.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.46
$1.37₽106
2.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.74
$0.67₽52.1
59.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$71.8
$2.90₽226
42.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.42MX$304
$8.43₽655
106.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.22
$0.97₽75.3
73.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65MX$63.6
$1.92₽149
90.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.63
$0.49₽37.79
-22.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.71MX$326
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.18
$1.94₽151
-31.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.28
$0.35₽27.58
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.51MX$96.1
$6.22₽484
-11.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.76
$0.72₽56.1
81.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KMX$334.2K
$34.9K₽2.7M
-45.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.1K
$35.8K₽2.8M
-33.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14MX$717
$109₽8,436
-62.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74MX$484
$6.11₽475
354.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13MX$525
$7.83₽609
284.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7MX$937
$36.25₽2,817
48.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.49MX$113
$5.15₽400
26.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437MX$7,614
$325₽25.3K
34.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.3K
$7,037₽547.0K
48.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$69.3₽5,385
-15.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86MX$800
$44.33₽3,445
3.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,769
$114₽8,895
-11.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107MX$1,858
$109₽8,468
-2.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MX$17.5K
$438₽34.1K
129.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634MX$11.0K
$309₽24.1K
104.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148MX$37.5K
$754₽58.6K
184.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247MX$21.7K
$514₽40.0K
142.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,859MX$67.3K
$2,268₽176.3K
70.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,085MX$36.3K
$1,303₽101.2K
60.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Shakhty
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,072MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
15.33
-26.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Last update for Shakhty: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $438 in Shakhty. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Shakhty for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $198 per month, with Shakhty 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 Shakhty: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Shakhty?
Mexico City and Shakhty differ by about 54% in total monthly costs ($1,481 vs $964 including rent). Shakhty is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Shakhty?
You'd need roughly $2,222 in Mexico City and $1,445 in Shakhty to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Shakhty?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $438 in Shakhty. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Shakhty?
Childcare runs $437 in Mexico City versus $325 in Shakhty. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Shakhty – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $964 in Shakhty versus $1,481 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Shakhty but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Shakhty the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Shakhty?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Shakhty?
Expats usually find Shakhty gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% 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