Cost of Living Comparison Between Sungai Petani and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Sungai Petani and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $824 in Sungai Petani versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,254 in Sungai Petani versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,684 in Sungai Petani versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Sungai Petani costs roughly 43% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sungai Petani is 38% below, Mexico City is 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.07 MYR 12.57
$13.07 MX$228
-76.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.95 MYR 85.7
$53.8 MX$936
-61.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.16 MYR 17.01
$9.68 MX$169
-57.02%
Cappuccino
$1.66 MYR 6.80
$3.74 MX$65.1
-55.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 2.02
$1.62 MX$28.13
-69.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 MYR 1.02
$1.16 MX$20.23
-78.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.49 MYR 18.36
$3.23 MX$56.2
39.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 MYR 11.62
$4.74 MX$82.5
-40.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.82 MYR 7.44
$1.65 MX$28.68
10.30%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 MYR 2.80
$2.75 MX$47.95
-75.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 MYR 5.12
$1.87 MX$32.63
-33.16%
Eggs
$2.13 MYR 8.70
$2.50 MX$43.54
-14.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.89 MYR 60.9
$10.20 MX$178
45.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 MYR 14.73
$8.25 MX$144
-56.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.79 MYR 40.05
$11.82 MX$206
-17.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.91 MYR 11.91
$3.01 MX$52.4
-3.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.52 MYR 6.21
$1.81 MX$31.54
-16.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.72 MYR 11.14
$2.00 MX$34.81
36.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.10 MYR 8.59
$2.00 MX$34.74
5.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.84
$2.08 MX$36.30
-43.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 MYR 4.76
$2.27 MX$39.56
-48.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 MYR 3.69
$1.46 MX$25.36
-38.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 MYR 1.87
$1.08 MX$18.74
-57.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.99 MYR 16.33
$4.35 MX$75.7
-8.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 MYR 77.2
$16.99 MX$296
11.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MYR 11.04
$1.73 MX$30.18
56.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47 MYR 14.20
$3.58 MX$62.3
-3.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MYR 2.85
$0.39 MX$6.74
79.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.96 MYR 48.94
$18.69 MX$325
-36.01%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.74 MYR 3.04
$1.33 MX$23.08
-44.36%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.50 MYR 2.04
$0.28 MX$4.87
78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.02 MYR 28.71
$5.25 MX$91.5
33.71%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.50 MYR 2.05
$1.34 MX$23.27
-62.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9K MYR 134.7K
$19.4K MX$338.0K
69.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MYR 111.4K
$23.8K MX$415.0K
14.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.01 MYR 160
$40.69 MX$709
-4.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.93 MYR 40.63
$26.87 MX$468
-63.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.39 MYR 128
$30.51 MX$531
2.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.48 MYR 149
$52.8 MX$919
-30.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92 MYR 24.22
$26.65 MX$464
-77.79%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79 MYR 11.41
$6.51 MX$113
-57.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$240 MYR 983
$428 MX$7,454
-43.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,266 MYR 25.6K
$10.5K MX$182.8K
-40.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.0 MYR 221
$57.3 MX$997
-5.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.31 MYR 116
$45.50 MX$792
-37.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$62.3 MYR 255
$104 MX$1,812
-40.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.8 MYR 220
$108 MX$1,878
-50.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$384 MYR 1,571
$1,003 MX$17.5K
-61.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$270 MYR 1,106
$623 MX$10.8K
-56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$634 MYR 2,593
$2,109 MX$36.7K
-69.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$479 MYR 1,960
$1,218 MX$21.2K
-60.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,051 MYR 8,389
$3,885 MX$67.6K
-47.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,180 MYR 4,826
$2,033 MX$35.4K
-41.95%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sungai Petani
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$494 MYR 2,020
$1,038 MX$18.1K
-52.41%
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 Sungai Petani: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Sungai Petani and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 110% 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: $21.00 in Sungai Petani vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $249 vs $292 per month, with Sungai Petani 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
Sungai Petani vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sungai Petani and in Mexico City?
Sungai Petani and Mexico City differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($824 vs $1,456 including rent). Sungai Petani is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 110% lower in Mexico City. 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 Sungai Petani and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Sungai Petani 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 Sungai Petani and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sungai Petani runs roughly 56% 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 Sungai Petani and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $240 in Sungai Petani 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 $2,000 per month?
At $824 in Sungai Petani versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sungai Petani but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sungai Petani the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sungai Petani 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 Sungai Petani or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sungai Petani 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: Sungai Petani or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sungai Petani gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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