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: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,620 in Toronto.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $3,866 in Toronto.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $5,111 in Toronto.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 36% less than in Toronto, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Toronto 90% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$17.85 CA$24.75
-31.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$86.8 CA$120
-37.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$10.94 CA$15.17
1.37%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$4.01 CA$5.57
2.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$2.19 CA$3.04
-23.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$1.69 CA$2.34
-17.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$6.45 CA$8.94
-48.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$7.05 CA$9.77
-16.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$2.71 CA$3.77
-31.73%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$2.92 CA$4.05
8.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$2.48 CA$3.44
-16.53%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$3.85 CA$5.34
-23.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$10.10 CA$14.01
24.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$12.02 CA$16.66
-15.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$15.61 CA$21.65
3.07%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$3.90 CA$5.41
-13.08%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$1.24 CA$1.72
67.74%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$3.78 CA$5.24
-43.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$4.38 CA$6.08
-44.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$1.93 CA$2.67
10.36%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$1.50 CA$2.08
34.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$2.28 CA$3.17
-32.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$1.46 CA$2.02
-6.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$14.52 CA$20.14
-60.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$14.42 CA$20.00
23.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$2.26 CA$3.14
-8.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$2.59 CA$3.60
77.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$2.36 CA$3.28
-84.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$114 CA$159
-81.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$3.16 CA$4.38
-35.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$1.26 CA$1.74
-53.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$22.57 CA$31.30
-73.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$1.24 CA$1.72
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$27.3K CA$37.9K
-16.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$20.7K CA$28.8K
31.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$124 CA$172
-45.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$32.72 CA$45.38
-6.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$48.79 CA$67.7
-23.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$40.27 CA$55.9
52.62%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$23.84 CA$33.06
13.76%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$12.82 CA$17.77
-44.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$787 CA$1,092
-42.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$24.5K CA$34.0K
-44.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$54.2 CA$75.2
36.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$43.10 CA$59.8
32.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$97.9 CA$136
17.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$126 CA$175
-3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$1,660 CA$2,303
-30.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$1,483 CA$2,057
-52.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$2,800 CA$3,883
-7.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$2,157 CA$2,991
-39.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$8,381 CA$11.6K
-52.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$6,842 CA$9,489
-68.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Toronto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$3,799 CA$5,269
-71.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.47
152.80%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Toronto: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $1,660 in Toronto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 251% 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 $87.0 in Toronto for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $364 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 in Toronto?
Mexico City and Toronto differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $2,620 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, salaries run 251% lower in Toronto. 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 in Toronto?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $1,660 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 in Toronto?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 440% 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 $456 in Mexico City versus $787 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,620 in Toronto, a $3,000 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 56% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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