Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Perth and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,281 in Perth versus $1,466 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,392 in Perth versus $2,325 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,504 in Perth versus $3,184 in Mexico City.

Living in Perth is roughly 56% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Perth 70% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.44 A$23.01
$13.30 MX$230
23.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.5 A$111
$53.8 MX$932
47.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.51 A$14.71
$9.42 MX$163
11.57%
Cappuccino
$3.65 A$5.11
$3.59 MX$62.2
1.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59 A$3.62
$1.62 MX$28.11
59.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 A$2.77
$1.12 MX$19.48
76.79%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.91 A$11.08
$3.25 MX$56.3
143.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.33 A$8.87
$4.65 MX$80.6
36.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 A$2.05
$1.64 MX$28.35
-10.98%
White Bread (500g)
$2.34 A$3.27
$2.65 MX$45.98
-11.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 A$2.82
$1.96 MX$33.97
2.55%
Eggs
$4.48 A$6.27
$2.54 MX$44.06
76.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.32 A$11.64
$9.97 MX$173
-16.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.36 A$11.71
$8.39 MX$145
-0.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.87 A$19.41
$11.83 MX$205
17.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.42 A$4.79
$2.86 MX$49.59
19.58%
Banana (1kg)
$3.01 A$4.22
$1.73 MX$30.03
73.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.93 A$4.11
$1.99 MX$34.48
47.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.68 A$6.55
$2.05 MX$35.49
128.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.51 A$3.51
$2.06 MX$35.62
21.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 A$2.52
$2.28 MX$39.52
-21.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.99 A$2.79
$1.45 MX$25.04
37.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 A$2.05
$1.09 MX$18.82
33.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$31.67 A$44.34
$4.27 MX$73.9
641.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.69 A$14.96
$14.67 MX$254
-27.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82 A$5.34
$1.76 MX$30.56
117.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.19 A$5.87
$3.57 MX$61.8
17.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.04 A$4.26
$0.38 MX$6.66
700.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$72.1 A$101
$18.73 MX$324
285.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.01 A$5.61
$1.39 MX$24.07
188.49%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.23 A$3.13
$0.30 MX$5.25
643.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.44 A$69.2
$5.41 MX$93.8
813.86%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 A$1.63
$1.34 MX$23.21
-13.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.3K A$41.0K
$18.9K MX$326.5K
55.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9K A$33.5K
$23.2K MX$401.8K
3.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$157 A$220
$40.30 MX$698
290.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.62 A$38.67
$27.15 MX$470
1.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.6 A$77.8
$29.46 MX$510
88.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.18 A$57.7
$52.7 MX$913
-21.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.86 A$22.20
$26.17 MX$453
-39.40%
Cinema Ticket
$16.40 A$22.96
$6.18 MX$107
165.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,792 A$2,509
$441 MX$7,633
306.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.9K A$16.7K
$10.7K MX$185.3K
11.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3 A$98.4
$57.2 MX$991
22.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.26 A$67.6
$45.04 MX$780
7.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 A$141
$103 MX$1,792
-2.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 A$150
$109 MX$1,883
-1.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,503 A$2,104
$1,000 MX$17.3K
50.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 A$1,612
$632 MX$10.9K
82.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,520 A$3,528
$2,141 MX$37.1K
17.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,818 A$2,546
$1,253 MX$21.7K
45.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$6,479 A$9,070
$3,745 MX$64.9K
72.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,911 A$6,875
$2,381 MX$41.2K
106.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Perth
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,214 A$5,900
$1,079 MX$18.7K
290.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.42
11.34
-43.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Perth: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,503 in Perth and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Perth pays 290% 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: $79 in Perth vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $328 vs $286 per month, with Mexico City 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
Perth vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Perth and Mexico City?
Perth and Mexico City differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($2,281 vs $1,466 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Perth or Mexico City?
Perth pays 290% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Perth and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,503 in Perth 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 Perth and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 285% less than in Perth. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Perth and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,792 in Perth versus $441 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,281 in Perth, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Perth. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Perth 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 Perth or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Perth 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: Perth or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Perth. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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