🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,054 in Perm versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Perm versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,167 in Perm versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Perm costs roughly 27% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Perm is 22% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.12₽661
$12.98MX$223
-29.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.32₽2,269
$52.6MX$903
-40.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.44₽394
$9.43MX$162
-42.31%
Cappuccino
$2.29₽166
$3.57MX$61.3
-35.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99₽71.7
$1.61MX$27.55
-38.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44₽31.57
$1.15MX$19.81
-61.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.24₽89.5
$3.15MX$54.0
-60.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58₽187
$4.86MX$83.4
-46.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99₽72.0
$1.70MX$29.17
-41.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.68₽49.17
$2.64MX$45.23
-74.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.47₽106
$1.90MX$32.67
-22.63%
Eggs
$1.79₽130
$2.54MX$43.62
-29.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.62₽697
$10.08MX$173
-4.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.54₽329
$8.29MX$142
-45.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.72₽705
$11.57MX$199
-15.99%
Apples(1kg)
$1.71₽124
$3.03MX$52.0
-43.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.83₽133
$1.71MX$29.35
7.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73₽125
$2.05MX$35.16
-15.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.44₽177
$2.06MX$35.36
18.45%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99₽71.6
$2.06MX$35.43
-51.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80₽58.0
$2.17MX$37.25
-63.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.08₽78.5
$1.40MX$24.08
-22.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72₽52.1
$1.12MX$19.26
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.24₽235
$4.29MX$73.7
-24.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.86₽715
$15.41MX$265
-36.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.95₽68.8
$1.67MX$28.74
-43.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94₽141
$3.69MX$63.3
-47.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.49₽35.75
$0.38MX$6.55
28.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.07₽1,672
$19.06MX$327
21.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.80₽131
$1.38MX$23.70
30.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.15₽10.71
$0.28MX$4.74
-46.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.51₽327
$5.42MX$92.9
-16.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75₽54.1
$1.28MX$21.98
-41.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2K₽2.3M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
64.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K₽2.7M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
61.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104₽7,558
$41.02MX$704
154.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.94₽430
$26.92MX$462
-77.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$9.51₽689
$29.69MX$510
-67.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.62₽2,219
$52.3MX$898
-41.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.91₽1,226
$26.23MX$450
-35.53%
Cinema Ticket
$4.96₽359
$6.18MX$106
-19.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$343₽24.9K
$427MX$7,331
-19.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,922₽356.7K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-53.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100.0₽7,243
$56.8MX$975
75.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.50₽2,862
$44.83MX$769
-11.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$142₽10.3K
$105MX$1,794
36.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$150₽10.9K
$106MX$1,819
41.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$541₽39.2K
$995MX$17.1K
-45.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364₽26.4K
$621MX$10.7K
-41.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$821₽59.5K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-61.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580₽42.0K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-53.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,661₽192.8K
$3,903MX$67.0K
-31.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,840₽133.4K
$2,096MX$36.0K
-12.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perm
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$973₽70.5K
$1,107MX$19.0K
-12.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
17.62
11.34
55.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Perm: June 9, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $541 in Perm and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 14% 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: $31.00 in Perm vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $288 per month, with Perm cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Perm vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Perm and Mexico City?
Perm and Mexico City differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,054 vs $1,447 including rent). Perm 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 14% 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 Perm and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $541 in Perm versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Perm and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Perm runs roughly 21% 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 Perm and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $343 in Perm versus $427 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 $1,054 in Perm versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Perm but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Perm the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Perm 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 Perm or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Perm 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: Perm or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Perm gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.