Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Tehran Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Tehran

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $611 in Tehran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,063 in Tehran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,515 in Tehran.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 172% more expensive than in Tehran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Tehran is 55% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$3.60 $3.60

231.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$16.55 $16.55

211.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$3.95 $3.95

188.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.91 $0.91

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 $1.49

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$1.28 $1.28

211.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.61

$0.51 $0.51

225.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.73 $1.73

-23.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$0.71 $0.71

164.79%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$0.53 $0.53

513.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$3.46 $3.46

-37.57%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$1.22 $1.22

137.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$4.13 $4.13

211.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$3.20 $3.20

214.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$9.82 $9.82

61.51%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$1.27 $1.27

159.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.78 $1.78

12.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$1.15 $1.15

91.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$0.71 $0.71

232.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$0.55 $0.55

272.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$0.51 $0.51

272.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.54 $0.54

198.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$0.31 $0.31

351.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 $0.51

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 $2.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$2.44 $2.44

123.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.11 $0.11

209.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$5.59 $5.59

272.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$0.48 $0.48

337.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$0.29 $0.29

93.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$2.92 $2.92

98.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.10 $0.10

1510.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$50.2K $50.2K

-54.50%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$43.8K $43.8K

-38.99%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$65.2 MX$1,124

$13.30 $13.30

390.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.09 MX$519

$1.59 $1.59

1792.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$3.76 $3.76

888.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$24.19 $24.19

147.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$13.47 $13.47

97.10%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$1.99 $1.99

253.77%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,012

$108 $108

329.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$2,589 $2,589

412.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$26.19 $26.19

189.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$38.13 $38.13

46.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$110 $110

1.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$76.1 $76.1

58.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$419 $419

163.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$254 $254

183.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$986 $986

156.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$627 $627

106.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$1,254 $1,254

218.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$721 $721

189.67%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$216 $216

379.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

23.42

-51.75%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Tehran: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $419 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 380% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $17.00 in Tehran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $123 per month, with Tehran 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 Tehran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Tehran differ by about 172% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $611 including rent). Tehran is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 380% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $419 in Tehran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Tehran runs roughly 272% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $108 in Tehran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $611 in Tehran versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tehran but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tehran the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Tehran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 172% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.