๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $352 in Ratlam versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $522 in Ratlam versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $691 in Ratlam versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Ratlam costs roughly 76% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Ratlam is 74% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.96โน184
$13.30MX$231
-85.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$6.80โน638
$53.8MX$932
-87.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.95โน277
$9.42MX$163
-68.68%
Cappuccino
$1.58โน148
$3.59MX$62.3
-55.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36โน33.99
$1.62MX$28.13
-77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13โน12.42
$1.12MX$19.49
-88.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19โน206
$3.25MX$56.3
-32.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30โน497
$4.65MX$80.6
13.98%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62โน58.2
$1.64MX$28.37
-62.20%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48โน45.09
$2.65MX$46.00
-81.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.72โน67.5
$1.96MX$33.99
-63.27%
Eggs
$0.82โน77.0
$2.54MX$44.08
-67.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.90โน460
$9.97MX$173
-50.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.31โน217
$8.39MX$145
-72.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.83MX$205
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.36โน222
$2.86MX$49.62
-17.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.45โน42.39
$1.73MX$30.05
-73.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01โน94.8
$1.99MX$34.50
-49.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80โน74.9
$2.05MX$35.51
-60.98%
Potato(1kg)
$0.16โน14.95
$2.06MX$35.64
-92.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.22โน20.51
$2.28MX$39.54
-90.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50โน46.76
$1.45MX$25.05
-65.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34โน31.71
$1.09MX$18.83
-68.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.57โน335
$4.27MX$73.9
-16.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.19โน487
$14.67MX$254
-64.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61โน151
$1.76MX$30.58
-8.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24โน210
$3.57MX$61.8
-37.25%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.64โน530
-
-
๐ Getting Around
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.28โน26.01
$0.38MX$6.67
-26.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.62โน809
$18.73MX$325
-53.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70โน65.9
$1.39MX$24.09
-49.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.26
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.49โน140
$5.41MX$93.8
-72.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.18โน111
$1.34MX$23.22
-11.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.3Kโน1.4M
$18.9KMX$326.7K
-18.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.9Kโน1.9M
$23.2KMX$402.0K
-14.03%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.76โน2,700
$40.30MX$698
-28.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.96โน371
$27.15MX$471
-85.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$5.89โน553
$29.46MX$510
-80.01%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$5.91โน555
$52.7MX$914
-88.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.90โน648
$26.17MX$454
-73.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.42โน321
$6.18MX$107
-44.66%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$62.3โน5,849
$441MX$7,637
-85.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,092โน102.5K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-89.79%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$7.91โน743
$57.2MX$992
-86.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$9.39โน881
$45.04MX$781
-79.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$17.64โน1,656
$103MX$1,793
-82.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.04โน2,726
$109MX$1,884
-73.29%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$136โน12.7K
$1,000MX$17.3K
-86.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.2โน8,655
$632MX$11.0K
-85.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$175โน16.4K
$2,141MX$37.1K
-91.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$144โน13.5K
$1,253MX$21.7K
-88.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$969โน91.0K
$3,745MX$64.9K
-74.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$517โน48.5K
$2,381MX$41.3K
-78.30%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Ratlam
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$401โน37.6K
$1,079MX$18.7K
-62.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.1
11.34
-19.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ratlam: April 22, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $136 in Ratlam and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 169% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $7 in Ratlam vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $96 vs $286 per month, with Ratlam 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
Ratlam vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ratlam and Mexico City?
Ratlam and Mexico City differ by about 316% in total monthly costs ($352 vs $1,466 including rent). Ratlam is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 169% 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 Ratlam and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $136 in Ratlam 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 Ratlam and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Ratlam runs roughly 117% 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 Ratlam and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $62.3 in Ratlam 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 $352 in Ratlam versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ratlam but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ratlam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ratlam and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ratlam or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ratlam 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: Ratlam or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Ratlam gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 316% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.