🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $633 in Pec versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Pec versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,443 in Pec versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Pec costs roughly 57% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pec is 53% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.81€4.97
$12.98MX$226
-55.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.30€19.89
$53.1MX$923
-56.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.67€3.99
$9.72MX$169
-51.95%
Cappuccino
$1.43€1.22
$3.75MX$65.2
-61.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29€1.11
$1.57MX$27.30
-17.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03€0.88
$1.13MX$19.64
-8.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02€1.72
$3.18MX$55.3
-36.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55€2.18
$4.66MX$81.1
-45.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33€1.14
$1.62MX$28.21
-17.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59€0.51
$2.71MX$47.09
-78.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.37€1.17
$1.88MX$32.70
-27.13%
Eggs
$1.59€1.36
$2.51MX$43.65
-36.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.30€5.38
$10.08MX$175
-37.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.95€4.22
$8.29MX$144
-40.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.30€8.79
$11.94MX$208
-13.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.22€1.04
$2.86MX$49.77
-57.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44€1.23
$1.75MX$30.45
-17.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09€0.93
$2.08MX$36.27
-47.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23€1.05
$1.97MX$34.27
-37.56%
Potato(1kg)
$0.80€0.68
$2.16MX$37.58
-62.96%
Onion(1kg)
$0.82€0.70
$2.18MX$37.94
-62.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68€0.58
$1.39MX$24.20
-51.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52€0.44
$1.12MX$19.57
-53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.51€2.99
$4.20MX$73.1
-16.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.92€5.05
$14.25MX$248
-58.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86€0.73
$1.76MX$30.68
-51.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44€1.23
$3.68MX$64.1
-60.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.39MX$6.71
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.66MX$325
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.36€2.02
$1.39MX$24.12
69.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54€0.46
$0.30MX$5.29
80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.62€4.80
$5.42MX$94.3
3.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.46€1.25
$1.35MX$23.50
8.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K€19.4K
$18.9KMX$328.6K
20.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K€21.5K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
8.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.2€72.7
$40.82MX$710
108.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.75€9.18
$27.50MX$479
-60.91%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.63€16.77
$30.38MX$529
-35.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.97€19.61
$53.4MX$930
-57.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.05€29.94
$26.30MX$458
33.27%
Cinema Ticket
$4.49€3.84
$6.27MX$109
-28.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$159€136
$436MX$7,588
-63.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,915€2,489
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-72.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.31€33.57
$56.8MX$988
-30.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.06€24.82
$44.79MX$779
-35.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$56.4€48.19
$103MX$1,789
-45.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.4€72.9
$108MX$1,878
-20.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$177€151
$1,000MX$17.4K
-82.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117€99.7
$620MX$10.8K
-81.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$348€297
$2,137MX$37.2K
-83.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286€244
$1,235MX$21.5K
-76.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,328€1,134
$3,865MX$67.3K
-65.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$996€850
$2,332MX$40.6K
-57.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pec
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$498€425
$1,067MX$18.6K
-53.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
11.34
-64.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Pec: April 28, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Pec and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 114% 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: $23.00 in Pec vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $163 vs $286 per month, with Pec 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
Pec vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Pec and Mexico City?
Pec and Mexico City differ by about 135% in total monthly costs ($633 vs $1,484 including rent). Pec 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 114% 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 Pec and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $177 in Pec versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Pec and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $159 in Pec versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Pec – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $633 in Pec versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Pec but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pec the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Pec 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.
Is Pec or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Pec and Mexico City 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: Pec or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Pec gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.