🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $348 in Quetta versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $548 in Quetta versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $747 in Quetta versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Quetta costs roughly 77% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Quetta is 74% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 963
$12.98MX$226
-73.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.48PKR 2,926
$53.1MX$923
-80.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.53PKR 1,265
$9.72MX$169
-53.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81PKR 504
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55PKR 434
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.66PKR 464
$3.75MX$65.2
-55.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46PKR 128
$1.57MX$27.30
-70.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20PKR 55.8
$1.13MX$19.64
-82.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.18MX$55.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.66MX$81.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.68PKR 191
$1.62MX$28.21
-58.02%
White Bread(500g)
$0.44PKR 122
$2.71MX$47.09
-83.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03PKR 289
$1.88MX$32.70
-45.21%
Eggs
$1.13PKR 315
$2.51MX$43.65
-54.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.18PKR 1,726
$10.08MX$175
-38.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.59PKR 722
$8.29MX$144
-68.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.21PKR 1,176
$11.94MX$208
-64.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.03PKR 287
$2.86MX$49.77
-63.99%
Banana(1kg)
$0.52PKR 146
$1.75MX$30.45
-70.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.56PKR 157
$2.08MX$36.27
-73.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.51PKR 144
$1.97MX$34.27
-74.11%
Potato(1kg)
$0.31PKR 87.1
$2.16MX$37.58
-85.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 140
$2.18MX$37.94
-77.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.3
$1.39MX$24.20
-74.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32PKR 90.5
$1.12MX$19.57
-71.43%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.45PKR 404
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.34PKR 94.2
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10PKR 586
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.69PKR 193
$4.20MX$73.1
-83.57%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.25MX$248
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.68
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.68MX$64.1
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 50.4
$0.39MX$6.71
-53.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.42PKR 1,514
$18.66MX$325
-70.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37PKR 102
$1.39MX$24.12
-73.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 183
$0.30MX$5.29
116.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.82PKR 507
$5.42MX$94.3
-66.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 268
$1.35MX$23.50
-28.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KPKR 5.9M
$18.9KMX$328.6K
11.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.4KPKR 3.5M
$23.2KMX$402.8K
-46.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.8PKR 15.0K
$40.82MX$710
31.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.39PKR 1,784
$27.50MX$479
-76.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.35PKR 4,006
$30.38MX$529
-52.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$4.99PKR 1,392
$53.4MX$930
-90.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00PKR 1,675
$26.30MX$458
-77.19%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80PKR 781
$6.27MX$109
-55.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$34.87PKR 9,734
$436MX$7,588
-92.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$426PKR 118.8K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-95.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,016
$56.8MX$988
-87.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$7.20PKR 2,010
$44.79MX$779
-83.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.5PKR 24.4K
$103MX$1,789
-14.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.40PKR 8,206
$108MX$1,878
-72.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$71.0PKR 19.8K
$1,000MX$17.4K
-92.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$48.89PKR 13.6K
$620MX$10.8K
-92.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$160PKR 44.5K
$2,137MX$37.2K
-92.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.4PKR 27.5K
$1,235MX$21.5K
-92.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$384PKR 107.1K
$3,865MX$67.3K
-90.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$221PKR 61.7K
$2,332MX$40.6K
-90.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216PKR 60.3K
$1,067MX$18.6K
-79.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.34
5.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quetta: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $71.0 in Quetta and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 394% 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 Quetta vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $286 per month, with Quetta 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
Quetta vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Quetta and Mexico City?
Quetta and Mexico City differ by about 326% in total monthly costs ($348 vs $1,484 including rent). Quetta 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 394% 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 Quetta and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $71.0 in Quetta 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 Quetta and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 244% 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 Quetta and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $34.87 in Quetta versus $436 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 $348 in Quetta versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Quetta but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Quetta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Quetta 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: Quetta or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Quetta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 326% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.