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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,754 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $4,024 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $5,294 in Toronto.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 46% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Toronto 106% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$226
$18.87 CA$25.86
-31.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$923
$82.6 CA$113
-35.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$169
$11.19 CA$15.33
-13.14%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.2
$3.83 CA$5.25
-2.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.30
$2.19 CA$3.00
-28.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.64
$1.63 CA$2.24
-30.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.3
$5.73 CA$7.85
-44.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.1
$6.58 CA$9.01
-29.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.21
$2.80 CA$3.83
-42.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.09
$2.77 CA$3.80
-2.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.70
$3.55 CA$4.86
-47.04%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.65
$3.46 CA$4.75
-27.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$175
$13.39 CA$18.35
-24.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$144
$12.88 CA$17.64
-35.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$208
$16.36 CA$22.42
-27.02%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.77
$4.14 CA$5.67
-30.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.45
$1.14 CA$1.56
53.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.27
$3.39 CA$4.65
-38.64%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.27
$4.05 CA$5.55
-51.36%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.58
$2.53 CA$3.47
-14.62%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$37.94
$2.82 CA$3.87
-22.70%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.20
$2.46 CA$3.38
-43.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.57
$1.97 CA$2.70
-43.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.1
$14.78 CA$20.25
-71.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$248
$14.57 CA$19.96
-2.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.68
$2.67 CA$3.66
-34.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.1
$3.19 CA$4.37
15.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.71
$2.41 CA$3.30
-83.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$325
$113 CA$154
-83.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.12
$3.59 CA$4.92
-61.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.29
$1.35 CA$1.84
-77.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.3
$25.88 CA$35.45
-79.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.50
$1.10 CA$1.51
22.73%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$328.6K
$25.1K CA$34.4K
-24.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.8K
$21.7K CA$29.7K
6.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$710
$116 CA$159
-64.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$479
$37.49 CA$51.4
-26.65%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$529
$55.1 CA$75.4
-44.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$930
$57.0 CA$78.1
-6.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$458
$20.45 CA$28.01
28.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$109
$11.83 CA$16.20
-47.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,588
$1,121 CA$1,536
-61.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.1K
$18.5K CA$25.3K
-43.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$988
$56.8 CA$77.8
-0.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$779
$38.87 CA$53.3
15.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,789
$89.4 CA$123
14.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$114 CA$157
-5.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.4K
$1,844 CA$2,526
-45.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.8K
$1,557 CA$2,133
-60.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.2K
$2,940 CA$4,027
-27.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.5K
$2,432 CA$3,332
-49.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.3K
$8,557 CA$11.7K
-54.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.6K
$6,919 CA$9,479
-66.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.6K
$3,596 CA$4,927
-70.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
5.16
119.77%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Toronto: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,844 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 237% 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 $83.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $394 per month, with Mexico City 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 Toronto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Toronto?
Mexico City and Toronto differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $2,754 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Toronto earns 237% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,844 in Toronto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Toronto?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 504% less than in Toronto. 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 Toronto?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $1,121 in Toronto. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,754 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Toronto?
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 Toronto?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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