🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $395 in Pakpattan versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $582 in Pakpattan versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $770 in Pakpattan versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Pakpattan costs roughly 73% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pakpattan is 71% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14PKR 596
$12.98MX$227
-83.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.87PKR 2,472
$53.1MX$929
-83.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18PKR 1,445
$9.72MX$170
-46.71%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74PKR 485
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21PKR 896
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.38PKR 385
$3.75MX$65.6
-63.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 84.8
$1.57MX$27.46
-80.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 56.7
$1.13MX$19.76
-82.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.18MX$55.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.66MX$81.6
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.60PKR 166
$1.62MX$28.37
-62.96%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56PKR 156
$2.71MX$47.36
-79.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.04PKR 290
$1.88MX$32.89
-44.68%
Eggs
$1.04PKR 289
$2.51MX$43.90
-58.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.80PKR 1,338
$10.08MX$176
-52.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53PKR 705
$8.29MX$145
-69.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.15PKR 878
$11.94MX$209
-73.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.01PKR 282
$2.86MX$50.1
-64.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67PKR 187
$1.75MX$30.62
-61.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.58PKR 163
$2.08MX$36.48
-72.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$1.97MX$34.46
-73.60%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41PKR 114
$2.16MX$37.79
-81.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.39PKR 110
$2.18MX$38.16
-82.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60PKR 168
$1.39MX$24.34
-56.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35PKR 98.7
$1.12MX$19.69
-68.75%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$0.74PKR 205
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61PKR 448
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91PKR 533
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92PKR 536
$4.20MX$73.5
-54.29%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.25MX$249
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.85
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.68MX$64.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.16PKR 43.77
$0.39MX$6.74
-58.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.91PKR 1,927
$18.66MX$327
-62.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.05PKR 292
$1.39MX$24.26
-24.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53PKR 148
$0.30MX$5.32
76.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.40PKR 389
$5.42MX$94.9
-74.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93PKR 258
$1.35MX$23.63
-31.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KPKR 6.1M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
16.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8KPKR 6.1M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
-6.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102PKR 28.5K
$40.82MX$714
150.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.81PKR 1,342
$27.50MX$481
-82.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.66PKR 3,808
$30.38MX$532
-55.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.27PKR 3,420
$53.4MX$935
-77.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.91PKR 1,647
$26.30MX$460
-77.53%
Cinema Ticket
$2.57PKR 717
$6.27MX$110
-59.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.35PKR 10.1K
$436MX$7,632
-91.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,741PKR 485.3K
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-83.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.73PKR 4,663
$56.8MX$993
-70.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.65PKR 7,709
$44.79MX$784
-38.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.6PKR 19.7K
$103MX$1,799
-31.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.08PKR 8,107
$108MX$1,888
-73.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.0PKR 21.2K
$1,000MX$17.5K
-92.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$52.8PKR 14.7K
$620MX$10.9K
-91.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$170PKR 47.4K
$2,137MX$37.4K
-92.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$106PKR 29.7K
$1,235MX$21.6K
-91.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$798PKR 222.5K
$3,865MX$67.6K
-79.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$584PKR 162.7K
$2,332MX$40.8K
-74.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$106PKR 29.7K
$1,067MX$18.7K
-90.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.43
11.34
53.70%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakpattan: April 25, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.0 in Pakpattan and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 902% 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: $9.00 in Pakpattan vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $79.0 vs $286 per month, with Pakpattan 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
Pakpattan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pakpattan and Mexico City?
Pakpattan and Mexico City differ by about 276% in total monthly costs ($395 vs $1,484 including rent). Pakpattan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 902% 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 Pakpattan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $76.0 in Pakpattan versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Pakpattan and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 170% 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 Pakpattan and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $36.35 in Pakpattan versus $436 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 $1,000 per month?
At $395 in Pakpattan versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pakpattan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pakpattan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pakpattan 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: Pakpattan or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Pakpattan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 276% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.