🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $450 in Pakpattan versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $625 in Pakpattan versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $800 in Pakpattan versus $3,470 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 67% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.24PKR 344
$11.92MX$205
-89.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.86PKR 3,007
$51.6MX$889
-78.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.38PKR 1,490
$11.41MX$197
-52.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63PKR 729
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.18PKR 1,434
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.80PKR 498
$3.99MX$68.8
-54.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 54.6
$1.66MX$28.57
-87.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.10PKR 28.52
$1.33MX$22.84
-92.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47MX$59.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.90MX$102
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.63PKR 174
$1.88MX$32.31
-66.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51PKR 140
$3.25MX$56.0
-84.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92PKR 254
$2.16MX$37.21
-57.41%
Eggs
$1.11PKR 306
$2.90MX$49.87
-61.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.28PKR 2,015
$12.86MX$221
-43.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.38PKR 658
$10.05MX$173
-76.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$3.63PKR 1,006
$15.86MX$273
-77.11%
Apples(1kg)
$0.89PKR 247
$3.29MX$56.7
-72.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.49PKR 136
$2.01MX$34.55
-75.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.28PKR 76.6
$2.20MX$37.88
-87.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.55PKR 153
$2.36MX$40.57
-76.69%
Potato(1kg)
$0.39PKR 108
$2.05MX$35.38
-80.98%
Onion(1kg)
$0.43PKR 120
$1.90MX$32.75
-77.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50PKR 138
$1.61MX$27.64
-68.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 95.4
$1.40MX$24.05
-75.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.81PKR 500
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.96PKR 265
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95PKR 818
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.14PKR 593
$5.46MX$94.1
-60.81%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.65MX$304
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.06MX$35.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.68MX$80.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19PKR 51.4
$0.34MX$5.83
-44.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.32PKR 3,135
$20.81MX$358
-45.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41PKR 391
$2.10MX$36.11
-32.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38PKR 104
$0.56MX$9.63
-32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.89PKR 246
$5.81MX$100
-84.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03PKR 284
$1.61MX$27.65
-36.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2KPKR 7.0M
$22.8KMX$393.3K
10.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KPKR 7.4M
$26.8KMX$460.6K
-0.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146PKR 40.5K
$65.2MX$1,122
124.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.84PKR 1,340
$30.09MX$518
-83.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.03PKR 5,271
$37.18MX$640
-48.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.25PKR 4,225
$59.8MX$1,029
-74.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.55MX$457
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.42PKR 1,225
$7.04MX$121
-37.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$12.57PKR 3,481
$465MX$8,001
-97.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,028PKR 284.7K
$13.3KMX$228.6K
-92.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$10.90PKR 3,020
$75.9MX$1,307
-85.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.47PKR 3,453
$56.0MX$963
-77.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$25.04PKR 6,936
$112MX$1,926
-77.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$14.39PKR 3,986
$121MX$2,075
-88.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$112PKR 31.0K
$1,103MX$19.0K
-89.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$78.2PKR 21.7K
$721MX$12.4K
-89.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254PKR 70.4K
$2,530MX$43.6K
-89.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150PKR 41.6K
$1,293MX$22.3K
-88.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$857PKR 237.4K
$3,991MX$68.7K
-78.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$471PKR 130.5K
$2,090MX$36.0K
-77.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pakpattan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$109PKR 30.1K
$1,037MX$17.9K
-89.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13
11.3
15.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pakpattan: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $112 in Pakpattan and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 854% 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: $11.00 in Pakpattan vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $83.0 vs $345 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 in Mexico City?
Pakpattan and Mexico City differ by about 269% in total monthly costs ($450 vs $1,660 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, salaries run 854% lower in Mexico City. 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $112 in Pakpattan 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 Pakpattan and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Pakpattan runs roughly 84% 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 $12.57 in Pakpattan 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 $1,000 per month?
At $450 in Pakpattan versus $1,660 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 269% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.