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: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $703 in Tehran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,150 in Tehran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,596 in Tehran.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 109% more expensive than in Tehran, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tehran is 47% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$4.03 $4.03

226.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$18.03 $18.03

196.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$4.91 $4.91

90.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$1.33 $1.33

178.20%

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

$1.60 MX$27.76

$0.42 $0.42

280.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$1.04 $1.04

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$0.59 $0.59

179.66%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$0.58 $0.58

367.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$1.94 $1.94

-1.55%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$1.21 $1.21

114.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$3.42 $3.42

186.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$3.33 $3.33

153.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$10.95 $10.95

8.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$0.92 $0.92

220.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$1.48 $1.48

17.57%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$0.87 $0.87

134.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$0.63 $0.63

226.98%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$0.55 $0.55

290.91%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$0.54 $0.54

318.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$0.60 $0.60

131.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$0.25 $0.25

348.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.63 $0.63

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 $0.60

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$2.54 $2.54

66.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$0.24 $0.24

45.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

$10.15 $10.15

90.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$0.48 $0.48

187.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.29 $0.29

-3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$3.02 $3.02

74.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$0.76 $0.76

78.95%

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

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$79.4K $79.4K

-75.93%

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

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$54.8K $54.8K

-56.92%

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

$40.53 MX$701

$15.46 $15.46

162.16%

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

$27.38 MX$474

$2.17 $2.17

1161.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$5.72 $5.72

431.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$23.37 $23.37

123.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

$11.75 $11.75

125.36%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$1.48 $1.48

318.24%

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

$425 MX$7,355

$128 $128

232.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$1,942 $1,942

452.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$30.68 $30.68

90.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$34.64 $34.64

28.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$120 $120

-13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$68.6 $68.6

58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$482 $482

110.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$342 $342

82.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$1,021 $1,021

107.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$720 $720

69.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

$1,255 $1,255

202.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

$723 $723

191.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$225 $225

368.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

25.07

-54.77%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Tehran: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $482 in Tehran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 369% 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 $18.00 in Tehran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $112 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 109% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $703 including rent). Tehran is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 369% 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $482 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 90% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $128 in Tehran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $703 in Tehran versus $1,472 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 109% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.