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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,788 in Toronto versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,110 in Toronto versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,432 in Toronto versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Toronto is roughly 91% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 109% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.51 CA$25.96
$13.07 MX$229
41.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$83.8 CA$118
$53.8 MX$943
55.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.97 CA$15.38
$9.68 MX$170
13.33%
Cappuccino
$3.99 CA$5.59
$3.74 MX$65.6
6.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 CA$2.96
$1.62 MX$28.34
30.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69 CA$2.37
$1.16 MX$20.37
45.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.92 CA$8.30
$3.23 MX$56.6
83.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.48 CA$9.08
$4.74 MX$83.1
36.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$1.65 MX$28.89
64.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.85 CA$4.00
$2.75 MX$48.30
3.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.56 CA$4.99
$1.87 MX$32.87
90.37%
Eggs
$3.54 CA$4.96
$2.50 MX$43.86
41.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.26 CA$18.59
$10.20 MX$179
30.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.05 CA$18.29
$8.25 MX$145
58.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.77 CA$23.51
$11.82 MX$207
41.88%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.77
$3.01 MX$52.8
36.54%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 CA$1.60
$1.81 MX$31.77
-37.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.76
$2.00 MX$35.07
70.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.02 CA$5.64
$2.00 MX$35.00
101.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.43 CA$3.41
$2.08 MX$36.56
16.83%
Onion (1kg)
$2.94 CA$4.12
$2.27 MX$39.85
29.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 CA$3.47
$1.46 MX$25.55
69.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 CA$2.69
$1.08 MX$18.88
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.99 CA$21.01
$4.35 MX$76.3
244.60%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.34 CA$20.10
$16.99 MX$298
-15.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 CA$3.80
$1.73 MX$30.40
56.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12 CA$4.38
$3.58 MX$62.7
-12.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.45 CA$3.44
$0.39 MX$6.79
528.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$113 CA$158
$18.69 MX$328
503.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.63 CA$5.08
$1.33 MX$23.25
172.93%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 CA$1.88
$0.28 MX$4.91
378.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.55 CA$35.82
$5.25 MX$92.1
386.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 CA$1.55
$1.34 MX$23.44
-17.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K CA$35.4K
$19.4K MX$340.5K
30.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K CA$30.5K
$23.8K MX$418.0K
-8.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$117 CA$164
$40.69 MX$714
186.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.60 CA$52.7
$26.87 MX$471
39.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 CA$75.3
$30.51 MX$535
75.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 CA$80.1
$52.8 MX$926
8.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.86 CA$29.24
$26.65 MX$467
-21.73%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56 CA$16.20
$6.51 MX$114
77.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,125 CA$1,577
$428 MX$7,508
162.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.4K CA$25.9K
$10.5K MX$184.2K
75.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 CA$80.4
$57.3 MX$1,004
0.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.05 CA$54.8
$45.50 MX$798
-14.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$87.6 CA$123
$104 MX$1,825
-15.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$159
$108 MX$1,891
5.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,842 CA$2,582
$1,003 MX$17.6K
83.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,531 CA$2,146
$623 MX$10.9K
145.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 CA$4,101
$2,109 MX$37.0K
38.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,502 CA$3,508
$1,218 MX$21.4K
105.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,725 CA$12.2K
$3,885 MX$68.1K
124.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,867 CA$9,628
$2,033 MX$35.7K
237.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,454 CA$4,842
$1,038 MX$18.2K
232.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.16
11.34
-54.50%

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

Last update for Toronto: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,842 in Toronto and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 233% 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: $84.0 in Toronto vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $395 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City 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
Toronto vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Toronto and in Mexico City?
Toronto and Mexico City differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($2,788 vs $1,456 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Toronto or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 233% higher in Toronto, 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 Toronto and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,842 in Toronto 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 Toronto and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 504% less than in Toronto. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Toronto and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,125 in Toronto 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 $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,788 in Toronto, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Toronto. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Toronto 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: Toronto or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 91% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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