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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $551 in Varamin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $859 in Varamin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,168 in Varamin.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 163% more expensive than Varamin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Varamin is 59% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$223
$3.95 $3.95
228.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6 MX$903
$17.84 $17.84
194.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.43 MX$162
$5.06 $5.06
86.36%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.68 $0.68
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.00 $1.00
-
Cappuccino
$3.57 MX$61.3
$1.27 $1.27
181.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$0.43 $0.43
274.42%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15 MX$19.81
$1.04 $1.04
10.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.15 MX$54.0
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86 MX$83.4
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.17
$0.58 $0.58
193.10%
White Bread (500g)
$2.64 MX$45.23
$0.58 $0.58
355.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.67
$1.86 $1.86
2.15%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.62
$1.15 $1.15
120.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$173
$3.54 $3.54
184.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$142
$3.21 $3.21
158.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.57 MX$199
$10.76 $10.76
7.53%
Apples (1kg)
$3.03 MX$52.0
$0.87 $0.87
248.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 MX$29.35
$1.46 $1.46
17.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.16
$0.88 $0.88
132.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.36
$0.63 $0.63
226.98%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.43
$0.51 $0.51
303.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.17 MX$37.25
$0.54 $0.54
301.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.08
$0.58 $0.58
141.38%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.26
$0.23 $0.23
386.96%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$0.63 $0.63
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.55 $0.55
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.56 $1.56
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29 MX$73.7
$2.46 $2.46
74.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.41 MX$265
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$28.74
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 MX$63.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.55
$0.17 $0.17
123.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.06 MX$327
$9.90 $9.90
92.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.70
$0.49 $0.49
181.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.74
$0.27 $0.27
3.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$92.9
$2.93 $2.93
84.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MX$21.98
$0.73 $0.73
75.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K MX$325.8K
$79.4K $79.4K
-76.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5K MX$402.7K
$53.9K $53.9K
-56.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.02 MX$704
$15.94 $15.94
157.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92 MX$462
$2.23 $2.23
1107.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69 MX$510
$5.86 $5.86
406.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.3 MX$898
$15.90 $15.90
229.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23 MX$450
$12.49 $12.49
110.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$106
$1.54 $1.54
301.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,331
$125 $125
240.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$183.6K
$1,960 $1,960
445.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$975
$31.86 $31.86
78.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 MX$769
$33.66 $33.66
33.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 MX$1,794
$121 $121
-13.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,819
$69.1 $69.1
53.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$995 MX$17.1K
$282 $282
252.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$621 MX$10.7K
$198 $198
213.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,126 MX$36.5K
$626 $626
239.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,254 MX$21.5K
$315 $315
297.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.0K
$1,057 $1,057
269.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,096 MX$36.0K
$528 $528
296.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Varamin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,107 MX$19.0K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Varamin: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $282 in Varamin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $18.00 in Varamin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $110 per month, with Varamin 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 Varamin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Varamin?
Mexico City and Varamin differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $551 including rent). Varamin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Varamin?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $826 in Varamin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Varamin?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $282 in Varamin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Varamin?
A monthly transit pass in Varamin runs roughly 93% 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 Varamin?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $125 in Varamin. 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 $551 in Varamin versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Varamin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Varamin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Varamin?
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 Varamin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Varamin 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 Varamin?
Expats usually find Varamin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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