😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,037 in Tomsk.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,606 in Tomsk.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,176 in Tomsk.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 43% more expensive than Tomsk, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tomsk is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$6.45₽485
101.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$31.79₽2,388
66.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$5.62₽422
72.95%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.27₽170
65.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.02₽76.8
53.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.43₽32.23
162.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.24₽93.3
156.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.14₽236
48.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.11₽83.1
45.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.58₽43.45
367.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.85₽139
1.62%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.72₽129
45.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$10.96₽823
-8.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.50₽413
50.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$8.97₽674
33.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.05₽154
39.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.98₽149
-11.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.15₽161
-3.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$3.77₽283
-47.75%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.70₽52.6
208.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.54₽40.19
303.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.06₽79.5
31.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.61₽46.02
83.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.58₽193
62.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.90₽593
80.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$0.93₽70.2
89.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.83₽137
101.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.39₽29.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$26.15₽1,964
-28.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.68₽126
-17.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.25₽18.85
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$6.07₽456
-10.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.69₽51.6
95.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$31.6K₽2.4M
-40.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$40.4K₽3.0M
-42.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$114₽8,556
-64.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$5.09₽382
440.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$8.11₽609
274.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$61.1₽4,588
-12.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$25.54₽1,918
2.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.55₽417
12.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$75.0₽5,633
481.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,392₽329.9K
138.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$74.7₽5,611
-24.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$34.43₽2,586
30.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$135₽10.1K
-23.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$185₽13.9K
-41.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$445₽33.4K
124.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$278₽20.9K
123.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$753₽56.5K
183.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$500₽37.6K
146.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,153₽161.7K
79.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,504₽113.0K
55.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tomsk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$804₽60.4K
32.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
22.08
-48.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tomsk: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $445 in Tomsk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 33% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $32.00 in Tomsk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $207 per month, with Tomsk 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 Tomsk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Tomsk?
Mexico City and Tomsk differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,037 including rent). Tomsk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Tomsk?
Mexico City pays 33% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Tomsk?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $445 in Tomsk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Tomsk?
A monthly transit pass in Tomsk runs roughly 40% 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 Tomsk?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $75.0 in Tomsk. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,037 in Tomsk versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tomsk but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tomsk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tomsk?
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 Tomsk safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tomsk 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 Tomsk?
Expats usually find Tomsk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% 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