🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $387 in Patna versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $587 in Patna versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $787 in Patna versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Patna costs roughly 77% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Patna is 72% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.15₹206
$12.14MX$206
-82.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.78₹934
$53.9MX$914
-81.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13₹299
$11.09MX$188
-71.78%
Cappuccino
$1.67₹159
$4.10MX$69.5
-59.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36₹34.23
$1.68MX$28.53
-78.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16₹15.34
$1.39MX$23.55
-88.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05₹196
$3.33MX$56.5
-38.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.95₹568
$5.88MX$99.7
1.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.67₹63.7
$1.85MX$31.41
-63.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.43₹41.18
$3.17MX$53.8
-86.44%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.57₹54.9
$2.07MX$35.13
-72.46%
Eggs
$0.97₹92.4
$2.93MX$49.67
-66.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.72₹642
$12.59MX$214
-46.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.21₹211
$10.11MX$172
-78.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$16.09MX$273
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.37₹130
$3.39MX$57.5
-59.59%
Banana(1kg)
$0.67₹63.8
$2.08MX$35.26
-67.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05₹99.9
$2.12MX$35.97
-50.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.46₹43.67
$2.41MX$40.95
-80.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.36₹34.06
$2.13MX$36.11
-83.10%
Onion(1kg)
$0.49₹47.12
$2.01MX$34.02
-75.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.77
$1.55MX$26.21
-69.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30₹28.99
$1.36MX$23.15
-77.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.06₹484
$5.77MX$97.8
-12.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.33₹604
$17.74MX$301
-64.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59₹152
$2.07MX$35.11
-23.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17₹207
$4.61MX$78.3
-52.93%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$6.62₹633
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31₹29.58
$0.37MX$6.21
-16.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.78₹456
$21.18MX$359
-77.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29₹123
$2.05MX$34.84
-37.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.16₹15.59
$0.58MX$9.79
-72.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.13₹203
$6.07MX$103
-64.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08₹103
$1.55MX$26.34
-30.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.0K₹1.3M
$22.9KMX$388.1K
-38.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K₹2.6M
$27.2KMX$462.0K
0.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.93₹4,293
$67.4MX$1,144
-33.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.77₹265
$30.62MX$520
-90.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$6.39₹611
$37.24MX$632
-82.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.66₹2,069
$61.5MX$1,043
-64.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.25₹1,170
$27.12MX$460
-54.83%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41₹325
$7.11MX$121
-52.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$54.7₹5,223
$456MX$7,739
-88.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,680₹160.5K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-87.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.42₹2,333
$74.2MX$1,259
-67.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.43₹2,812
$57.0MX$967
-48.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$38.93₹3,719
$115MX$1,958
-66.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.43₹3,194
$122MX$2,061
-72.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$106₹10.1K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-90.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$62.2₹5,942
$709MX$12.0K
-91.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249₹23.7K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-90.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$131₹12.5K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-89.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,297₹123.9K
$4,005MX$67.9K
-67.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$512₹48.9K
$2,130MX$36.1K
-75.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Patna
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345₹33.0K
$1,082MX$18.4K
-68.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
11.3
-16.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Patna: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Patna and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 214% 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: $10.00 in Patna vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $98.0 vs $345 per month, with Patna 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
Patna vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Patna and in Mexico City?
Patna and Mexico City differ by about 333% in total monthly costs ($387 vs $1,677 including rent). Patna 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 214% 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 Patna and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $106 in Patna versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Patna and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Patna runs roughly 343% 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 Patna and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $54.7 in Patna versus $456 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 $1,500 per month?
At $387 in Patna versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Patna but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Patna the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Patna 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: Patna or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Patna gentler on the wallet – expenses run 333% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.