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: $2,811 in Toronto versus $1,467 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Toronto versus $2,371 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,449 in Toronto versus $3,274 in Mexico City.

Living in Toronto is roughly 92% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Toronto 110% above, Mexico City 10% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.71 CA$26.02
$13.18 MX$228
41.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.9 CA$114
$53.9 MX$931
51.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.83 CA$15.06
$9.42 MX$163
14.97%
Cappuccino
$3.89 CA$5.41
$3.55 MX$61.3
9.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 CA$3.09
$1.62 MX$27.95
37.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 CA$2.29
$1.11 MX$19.25
48.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.05 CA$8.41
$3.12 MX$53.9
93.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.58 CA$9.15
$4.63 MX$80.0
42.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.73 CA$3.79
$1.70 MX$29.40
60.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 CA$3.78
$2.72 MX$46.97
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.54 CA$4.92
$1.91 MX$33.04
85.34%
Eggs
$3.50 CA$4.87
$2.54 MX$43.82
37.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.53 CA$18.81
$10.03 MX$173
34.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.09 CA$18.20
$8.09 MX$140
61.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.96 CA$23.59
$11.62 MX$201
45.96%
Apples (1kg)
$4.16 CA$5.79
$2.97 MX$51.3
40.07%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 CA$1.64
$1.81 MX$31.21
-34.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.25 CA$4.52
$2.01 MX$34.79
61.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.12 CA$5.73
$2.03 MX$35.16
102.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.50 CA$3.48
$2.12 MX$36.71
17.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.88 CA$4.00
$2.27 MX$39.21
26.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.35 CA$3.27
$1.40 MX$24.20
67.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.00 CA$2.78
$1.13 MX$19.53
76.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.58 CA$20.28
$4.27 MX$73.8
241.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 CA$19.71
$15.56 MX$269
-8.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80 CA$3.89
$1.76 MX$30.36
59.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.25 CA$4.53
$3.60 MX$62.1
-9.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.40 CA$3.34
$0.38 MX$6.62
531.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$114 CA$159
$19.18 MX$331
494.63%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.76 CA$5.22
$1.38 MX$23.77
172.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.96
$0.28 MX$4.78
403.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.53 CA$35.50
$5.45 MX$94.1
368.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.10 CA$1.53
$1.30 MX$22.53
-15.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.2K CA$35.1K
$18.7K MX$322.9K
35.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1K CA$29.3K
$23.1K MX$399.7K
-8.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 CA$166
$40.86 MX$706
192.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.54 CA$52.2
$26.81 MX$463
40.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 CA$75.8
$29.96 MX$518
81.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$55.5 CA$77.2
$52.0 MX$899
6.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.15 CA$29.41
$26.84 MX$464
-21.20%
Cinema Ticket
$11.56 CA$16.07
$6.30 MX$109
83.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,129 CA$1,571
$436 MX$7,536
158.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.0K CA$25.0K
$10.4K MX$180.0K
72.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9 CA$79.2
$56.7 MX$979
0.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.96 CA$55.6
$44.38 MX$767
-9.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.7 CA$125
$103 MX$1,779
-12.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 CA$159
$106 MX$1,823
8.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,849 CA$2,572
$1,022 MX$17.7K
80.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,560 CA$2,169
$631 MX$10.9K
147.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,925 CA$4,068
$2,136 MX$36.9K
36.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,470 CA$3,435
$1,243 MX$21.5K
98.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,085 CA$12.6K
$3,903 MX$67.4K
132.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$7,036 CA$9,785
$2,064 MX$35.7K
240.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Toronto
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,572 CA$4,967
$1,115 MX$19.3K
220.33%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,849 in Toronto and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Toronto pays 220% 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: $82.0 in Toronto vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $396 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Toronto and Mexico City differ by about 92% in total monthly costs ($2,811 vs $1,467 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?
Toronto pays 220% more on average, 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,849 in Toronto versus $1,022 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 Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 495% 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 $1,129 in Toronto versus $436 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,811 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 92% less than in Toronto. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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