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Mexico City vs Sydney

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Mexico City, MX vs Sydney, AU at a glance — Sydney, AU is 98% more expensive than Mexico City, MX overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $2,200/mo versus $800/mo. Top income tax: 45% vs 35%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Sydney, AU, you'd need

$148,602 / year

Sydney, AU is 98% more expensive overall

Category breakdown (Sydney, AU vs Mexico City, MX)

  • Housing+170%
  • Food & groceries+77%
  • Transport+110%
  • Utilities+38%
  • Healthcare+46%
  • Goods & services+71%

◎ How Mexico City, MX and Sydney, AU compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Mexico City, MXSydney, AU

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Mexico City, MXSydney, AU
Cost of living
Overall cost index64128
Housing60162
Food65115
Transport50105
Utilities80110
Healthcare6595
Goods & services70120
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$800/mo$2,200/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$550/mo$1,650/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,600/mo$4,200/mo
Buy price / m² centre$3,200$12,000
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,553$784
Inexpensive meal$5$18
Monthly transit pass$20$130
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)35%45%
VAT / sales tax16%10%
Corporate tax30%30%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$700/mo$3,900/mo
Minimum wage$420/mo$2,600/mo
GDP per capita$13,889✓$65,130✓
Inflation (annual)3.8%✓2.9%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesNo
English proficiencyLowNative
Coworking spaces7090
Time zoneUTC-6UTC+10
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)5674
Safety index4074
Healthcare index6885
Pollution index7530
Internet speed80 Mbps90 Mbps
Walkability6878
Public transport7080
Family-friendly6076
Tap waterUse cautionSafe to drink
Health insurance$80/mo—
Life expectancy75 yr✓83 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateHigh
Climate
January avg+14 °C+23 °C
July avg+17 °C+13 °C
Sunny days / year240236
Rainfall / year850 mm1,210 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub1 h3 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Mexico vs Australia. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Mexico City vs Sydney — in your currency

Mexico CitySydney
1-bed rent, city centre$800$2,200
1-bed rent, outside centre$550$1,650
Inexpensive meal$5$18
Monthly transit pass$20$130
Utilities (monthly)$60$150

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Mexico City

A vast, vibrant capital with a perfect spring-like climate — a top nomad pick, though air and traffic bite.

Currency
Mexican peso ($ MXN)
Languages
Spanish
Time zone
UTC-6
Internet
80 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
40/100
Climate
❄ 14°C · ☀ 17°C · 240 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Bottled recommended
Power
A/B · 127V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Roma · Condesa · Polanco

Good to know before you move to Sydney

Beaches, sunshine and a high quality of life — for a price, with housing among the least affordable in the developed world.

Currency
Australian dollar ($ AUD)
Languages
English
Time zone
UTC+10
Internet
90 Mbps
English
Native language
Safety
74/100
Climate
❄ 23°C · ☀ 13°C · 236 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
I · 230V
Driving
Left-hand side
Popular areas
Surry Hills · Bondi · Newtown

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Mexico City to Sydney: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Mexico City to Sydney, your cost of living will be roughly 98% more expensive. Sydney’s cost-of-living index is 128 versus 64 for Mexico City (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Mexico City cheaper than Sydney?

Sydney is about 98% more expensive than Mexico City overall — its cost-of-living index is 128 versus 64 for Mexico City.

Which is more expensive, Mexico City or Sydney?

Sydney is more expensive than Mexico City. Its cost-of-living index is 128 vs 64 (US = 100) — about 100% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Mexico City or Sydney?

Rent is cheaper in Mexico City — about $800/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $2,200 in Sydney.

How much do you need to earn in Sydney to live like in Mexico City?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Mexico City is worth about $148,602 in Sydney. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Mexico City or Sydney?

Mexico has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 45% in Australia.

◷ More comparisons from Mexico City

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.