🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $851 in Rawang versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,316 in Rawang versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,782 in Rawang versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Rawang costs roughly 42% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Rawang is 36% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01MYR 12.30
$13.07MX$229
-76.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.97MYR 85.8
$53.8MX$943
-60.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.26MYR 17.41
$9.68MX$170
-55.99%
Cappuccino
$2.86MYR 11.69
$3.74MX$65.6
-23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86MYR 3.51
$1.62MX$28.34
-46.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MYR 1.37
$1.16MX$20.37
-71.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.32MYR 17.66
$3.23MX$56.6
33.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.29MYR 17.56
$4.74MX$83.1
-9.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83MYR 7.47
$1.65MX$28.89
10.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99MYR 4.03
$2.75MX$48.30
-64.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MYR 6.75
$1.87MX$32.87
-11.76%
Eggs
$2.15MYR 8.79
$2.50MX$43.86
-14.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.50MYR 59.3
$10.20MX$179
42.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.62MYR 18.88
$8.25MX$145
-44.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.47MYR 38.73
$11.82MX$207
-19.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78MYR 11.36
$3.01MX$52.8
-7.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MYR 5.88
$1.81MX$31.77
-20.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.58MYR 10.55
$2.00MX$35.07
29.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45MYR 5.93
$2.00MX$35.00
-27.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19MYR 4.85
$2.08MX$36.56
-42.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17MYR 4.77
$2.27MX$39.85
-48.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89MYR 3.66
$1.46MX$25.55
-39.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.97
$1.08MX$18.88
-55.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17MYR 17.06
$4.35MX$76.3
-4.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.87MYR 77.2
$16.99MX$298
11.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MYR 11.10
$1.73MX$30.40
56.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53MYR 14.45
$3.58MX$62.7
-1.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.69MYR 2.84
$0.39MX$6.79
76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.60MYR 47.42
$18.69MX$328
-37.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74MYR 3.04
$1.33MX$23.25
-44.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MYR 2.22
$0.28MX$4.91
92.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.64MYR 18.96
$5.25MX$92.1
-11.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.50MYR 2.06
$1.34MX$23.44
-62.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KMYR 136.7K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
72.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMYR 111.3K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
14.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$38.80MYR 159
$40.69MX$714
-4.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.99MYR 40.86
$26.87MX$471
-62.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.14MYR 107
$30.51MX$535
-14.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.59MYR 154
$52.8MX$926
-28.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.74MYR 23.49
$26.65MX$467
-78.46%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86MYR 19.90
$6.51MX$114
-25.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$234MYR 958
$428MX$7,508
-45.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,231MYR 25.5K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-40.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4MYR 222
$57.3MX$1,004
-4.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.83MYR 118
$45.50MX$798
-36.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.2MYR 250
$104MX$1,825
-41.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.9MYR 212
$108MX$1,891
-51.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381MYR 1,559
$1,003MX$17.6K
-62.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$264MYR 1,082
$623MX$10.9K
-57.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$649MYR 2,655
$2,109MX$37.0K
-69.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$470MYR 1,922
$1,218MX$21.4K
-61.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,052MYR 8,395
$3,885MX$68.1K
-47.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,134MYR 4,639
$2,033MX$35.7K
-44.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rawang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,195MYR 4,887
$1,038MX$18.2K
15.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.16
11.34
-63.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rawang: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Rawang and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rawang pays 15% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Rawang vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $292 per month, with Rawang 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
Rawang vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rawang and in Mexico City?
Rawang and Mexico City differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($851 vs $1,456 including rent). Rawang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rawang or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 15% higher in Rawang, 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 Rawang and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Rawang versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Rawang and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Rawang runs roughly 61% 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 Rawang and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $234 in Rawang versus $428 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 $1,000 per month?
At $851 in Rawang versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rawang but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Rawang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rawang 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 Rawang or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rawang 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: Rawang or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Rawang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.