😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $452 in Sheikhupura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $666 in Sheikhupura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $879 in Sheikhupura.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 222% more expensive than in Sheikhupura, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sheikhupura is 66% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$2.75PKR 764
375.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$14.00PKR 3,888
283.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$5.17PKR 1,434
87.23%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.78PKR 496
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.79PKR 1,051
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$2.02PKR 560
85.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.43PKR 118
276.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.24PKR 66.7
383.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.59PKR 163
179.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.51PKR 141
439.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.04PKR 289
79.81%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.26PKR 350
98.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$6.22PKR 1,728
63.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$1.74PKR 482
374.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$2.77PKR 769
326.71%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.00PKR 277
201.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.82PKR 228
120.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.93PKR 259
115.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.60PKR 165
233.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.42PKR 116
395.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.56PKR 157
305.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.31PKR 85.9
370.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.38PKR 105
184.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$1.41PKR 390
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.90PKR 250
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.03PKR 563
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$2.18PKR 604
99.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.19PKR 54.0
105.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$6.96PKR 1,933
168.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.89PKR 248
49.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.43PKR 120
-34.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$2.78PKR 773
88.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.93PKR 257
44.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$21.0KPKR 5.8M
-7.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$25.8KPKR 7.2M
-7.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$110PKR 30.6K
-63.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$5.37PKR 1,492
400.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$18.52PKR 5,142
64.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$12.58PKR 3,494
319.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$5.89PKR 1,637
352.46%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$4.18PKR 1,161
55.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$60.1PKR 16.7K
612.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$1,102PKR 306.1K
852.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$21.12PKR 5,865
171.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$28.38PKR 7,881
60.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$88.7PKR 24.6K
17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$39.87PKR 11.1K
170.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$74.2PKR 20.6K
1251.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$52.3PKR 14.5K
1089.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$168PKR 46.5K
1158.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$106PKR 29.5K
1045.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$990PKR 274.9K
292.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$543PKR 150.8K
274.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sheikhupura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
20.2
-43.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Sheikhupura: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $74.2 in Sheikhupura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in Sheikhupura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $81.0 per month, with Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sheikhupura?
Mexico City and Sheikhupura differ by about 222% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $452 including rent). Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $678 in Sheikhupura 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 Sheikhupura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $74.2 in Sheikhupura. 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 Sheikhupura?
A monthly transit pass in Sheikhupura runs roughly 169% 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 Sheikhupura?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $60.1 in Sheikhupura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $452 in Sheikhupura versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sheikhupura but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sheikhupura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sheikhupura?
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 Sheikhupura?
Expats usually find Sheikhupura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 222% 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