🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $352 in Quetta versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $550 in Quetta versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $748 in Quetta versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Quetta costs roughly 76% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Quetta is 74% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45PKR 960
$12.98MX$223
-73.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.69PKR 2,972
$52.6MX$903
-79.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.40PKR 1,223
$9.43MX$162
-53.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.80PKR 500
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57PKR 435
-
-
Cappuccino
$1.62PKR 449
$3.57MX$61.3
-54.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42PKR 118
$1.61MX$27.55
-73.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22PKR 61.2
$1.15MX$19.81
-80.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.86MX$83.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.74PKR 207
$1.70MX$29.17
-56.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.46PKR 129
$2.64MX$45.23
-82.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$1.90MX$32.67
-43.68%
Eggs
$1.08PKR 299
$2.54MX$43.62
-57.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.94PKR 1,652
$10.08MX$173
-41.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.49PKR 691
$8.29MX$142
-69.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.24PKR 1,178
$11.57MX$199
-63.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.07PKR 298
$3.03MX$52.0
-64.69%
Banana(1kg)
$0.56PKR 155
$1.71MX$29.35
-67.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.57PKR 158
$2.05MX$35.16
-72.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52PKR 145
$2.06MX$35.36
-74.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.29PKR 80.6
$2.06MX$35.43
-85.92%
Onion(1kg)
$0.50PKR 139
$2.17MX$37.25
-76.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35PKR 98.2
$1.40MX$24.08
-75.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30PKR 83.3
$1.12MX$19.26
-73.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$1.42PKR 395
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.36PKR 101
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15PKR 598
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$0.72PKR 201
$4.29MX$73.7
-83.22%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.41MX$265
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.67MX$28.74
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.69MX$63.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18PKR 49.40
$0.38MX$6.55
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.36PKR 1,491
$19.06MX$327
-71.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33PKR 92.5
$1.38MX$23.70
-76.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.65PKR 180
$0.28MX$4.74
132.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.72PKR 479
$5.42MX$92.9
-68.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96PKR 266
$1.28MX$21.98
-25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.6KPKR 6.0M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
13.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$12.3KPKR 3.4M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-47.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.6PKR 14.6K
$41.02MX$704
28.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.38PKR 1,774
$26.92MX$462
-76.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.98PKR 3,887
$29.69MX$510
-52.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.09PKR 1,415
$52.3MX$898
-90.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.81PKR 1,614
$26.23MX$450
-77.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89PKR 804
$6.18MX$106
-53.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.09PKR 9,756
$427MX$7,331
-91.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$424PKR 117.8K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-96.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.22PKR 2,006
$56.8MX$975
-87.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$6.98PKR 1,941
$44.83MX$769
-84.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$89.7PKR 24.9K
$105MX$1,794
-14.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.19PKR 8,116
$106MX$1,819
-72.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$69.9PKR 19.4K
$995MX$17.1K
-92.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$50.4PKR 14.0K
$621MX$10.7K
-91.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$157PKR 43.7K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-92.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.5PKR 26.6K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-92.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$381PKR 106.0K
$3,903MX$67.0K
-90.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$220PKR 61.3K
$2,096MX$36.0K
-89.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quetta
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213PKR 59.3K
$1,107MX$19.0K
-80.75%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $69.9 in Quetta and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 420% 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: $11.00 in Quetta vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $84.0 vs $288 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 312% in total monthly costs ($352 vs $1,447 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 420% 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: $69.9 in Quetta 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 Quetta and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Quetta runs roughly 256% 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 $35.09 in Quetta 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 $352 in Quetta versus $1,447 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 312% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.