😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,357 in Oshawa versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,382 in Oshawa versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,407 in Oshawa versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Oshawa is roughly 42% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Oshawa72% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.23CA$19.90
$11.92MX$205
19.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.1CA$89.7
$51.6MX$886
24.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.44CA$11.81
$11.41MX$196
-26.03%
Cappuccino
$3.50CA$4.90
$3.99MX$68.6
-12.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.42
$1.66MX$28.48
4.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43CA$2.00
$1.33MX$22.77
7.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.17CA$7.23
$3.47MX$59.6
48.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14CA$8.59
$5.90MX$101
4.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.91CA$4.08
$1.88MX$32.21
54.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.89CA$4.04
$3.25MX$55.9
-11.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.09CA$5.72
$2.16MX$37.10
89.35%
Eggs
$3.01CA$4.20
$2.90MX$49.72
3.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96CA$13.94
$12.86MX$221
-22.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.31CA$20.02
$10.05MX$173
42.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.65CA$23.29
$15.86MX$272
4.98%
Apples(1kg)
$4.33CA$6.06
$3.29MX$56.6
31.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20CA$1.68
$2.01MX$34.44
-40.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.82CA$3.95
$2.20MX$37.76
28.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.84CA$5.37
$2.36MX$40.44
62.71%
Potato(1kg)
$3.53CA$4.94
$2.05MX$35.27
72.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62CA$3.66
$1.90MX$32.64
37.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36CA$3.31
$1.61MX$27.55
46.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.70CA$2.38
$1.40MX$23.98
21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.46CA$20.24
$5.46MX$93.8
164.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.63CA$17.67
$17.65MX$303
-28.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55CA$4.96
$2.06MX$35.28
72.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59CA$5.02
$4.68MX$80.4
-23.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.57CA$3.60
$0.34MX$5.81
655.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.3CA$97.0
$20.81MX$357
233.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.50CA$4.90
$2.10MX$35.99
66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70CA$0.97
$0.56MX$9.60
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.03CA$25.23
$5.81MX$99.8
210.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.12CA$1.56
$1.61MX$27.56
-30.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2KCA$39.5K
$22.8KMX$392.1K
23.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1KCA$28.2K
$26.8KMX$459.2K
-24.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138CA$193
$65.2MX$1,119
111.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.91CA$54.4
$30.09MX$517
29.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.0CA$74.1
$37.18MX$638
42.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.31CA$41.01
$59.8MX$1,026
-50.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.67CA$40.11
$26.55MX$456
7.98%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99CA$15.37
$7.04MX$121
56.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,202CA$1,682
$465MX$7,976
158.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.5CA$79.0
$75.9MX$1,303
-25.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.8CA$79.4
$56.0MX$960
1.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105CA$147
$112MX$1,920
-5.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133CA$185
$121MX$2,068
10.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,379CA$1,929
$1,103MX$18.9K
25.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,238CA$1,732
$721MX$12.4K
71.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,970CA$2,757
$2,530MX$43.4K
-22.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,822CA$2,549
$1,293MX$22.2K
40.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,258CA$7,357
$3,991MX$68.5K
31.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$10.4KCA$14.6K
$2,090MX$35.9K
398.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oshawa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,044CA$4,259
$1,037MX$17.8K
193.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.3
-59.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oshawa: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,379 in Oshawa and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oshawa pays 193% 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: $64.0 in Oshawa vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $393 vs $345 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
Oshawa vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oshawa and in Mexico City?
Oshawa and Mexico City differ by about 42% in total monthly costs ($2,357 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Oshawa or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 193% higher in Oshawa, 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 Oshawa and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,379 in Oshawa versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oshawa and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 233% less than in Oshawa. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Oshawa and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,202 in Oshawa versus $465 in Mexico City. 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 $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,357 in Oshawa, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Oshawa. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oshawa and Mexico City?
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: Oshawa or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Oshawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.