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

🙂 Solo nomad: Shanghai is 22.3% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 15.6% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Shanghai is 26.9% cheaper than Mexico City without rent, and 18.1% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 ¥33.92
$13.38 MX$253
-64.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.17 ¥259
$52.7 MX$997
-31.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.6 ¥40.18
$9.31 MX$176
-39.85%
Cappuccino
$3.56 ¥25.53
$3.61 MX$68.3
-1.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 ¥3.9
$1.64 MX$30.91
-67.07%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 ¥2.59
$1.12 MX$21.14
-67.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.43 ¥10.25
$3.26 MX$61.7
-56.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 ¥19.81
$4.82 MX$91.1
-42.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.18 ¥15.66
$1.65 MX$31.24
32.12%
White Bread (500g)
$1.81 ¥13
$2.74 MX$51.7
-33.94%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.1 ¥7.9
$1.92 MX$36.28
-42.71%
Eggs
$1.69 ¥12.1
$2.51 MX$47.53
-32.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.79 ¥113
$9.89 MX$187
59.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 ¥22.76
$8.39 MX$159
-62.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.88 ¥78.1
$11.95 MX$226
-8.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 ¥16.24
$2.87 MX$54.3
-21.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 ¥11.98
$1.74 MX$32.85
-4.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 ¥12.78
$2 MX$37.81
-11.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥10.94
$2.07 MX$39.14
-26.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 ¥6.09
$2.05 MX$38.78
-58.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 ¥8.37
$2.18 MX$41.22
-46.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.68 ¥4.84
$1.38 MX$26.16
-50.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.6 ¥4.29
$1.11 MX$21.06
-45.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.87 ¥20.56
$4.16 MX$78.6
-31.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.16 ¥80
$11.05 MX$209
1.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.8 ¥5.73
$1.75 MX$33.16
-54.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 ¥11.22
$3.7 MX$70
-57.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.4 ¥2.89
$0.38 MX$7.25
5.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.15 ¥252
$18.97 MX$359
85.29%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.29 ¥16.45
$1.36 MX$25.72
68.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 ¥2.69
$0.28 MX$5.25
32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.14 ¥58.4
$5.3 MX$100
53.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥7.81
$1.36 MX$25.63
-19.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.5K ¥140.1K
$18.8K MX$354.6K
4.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2K ¥130.5K
$23.4K MX$441.7K
-22.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.6 ¥370
$39.97 MX$756
28.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.68 ¥62.2
$27.48 MX$519
-68.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.5 ¥96.8
$30.22 MX$571
-55.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.42 ¥333
$52.6 MX$994
-11.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.44 ¥147
$26.84 MX$507
-23.85%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 ¥61.5
$6.32 MX$120
35.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,307 ¥9,378
$437 MX$8,258
199.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$31.4K ¥225.4K
$10.6K MX$199.9K
197.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.8 ¥422
$57.2 MX$1,082
2.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.99 ¥265
$45.14 MX$853
-18.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 ¥558
$102 MX$1,928
-23.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.5 ¥706
$109 MX$2,056
-9.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$952 ¥6,827
$1,000 MX$18.9K
-4.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 ¥4,115
$622 MX$11.8K
-7.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 ¥18.1K
$2,160 MX$40.8K
16.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,201 ¥8,614
$1,235 MX$23.3K
-2.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$14.4K ¥103.2K
$3,566 MX$67.4K
303.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,106 ¥51K
$2,480 MX$46.9K
186.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shanghai
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,534 ¥11K
$867 MX$16.4K
76.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.58
11.34
-68.43%

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

Last update for Shanghai: October 28, 2025

Last update for Mexico City: October 28, 2025

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