😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,268 in Ashford versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,164 in Ashford versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,060 in Ashford versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Ashford is roughly 55% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ashford69% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.98£14.88
$13.18MX$228
51.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$95.0£70.8
$53.9MX$931
76.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.91£8.13
$9.42MX$163
15.82%
Cappuccino
$4.01£2.99
$3.55MX$61.3
12.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86£2.13
$1.62MX$27.95
76.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97£1.47
$1.11MX$19.25
77.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.21£4.62
$3.12MX$53.9
99.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.27£4.67
$4.63MX$80.0
35.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88£1.40
$1.70MX$29.40
10.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46£1.09
$2.72MX$46.97
-46.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.82£2.10
$1.91MX$33.04
47.64%
Eggs
$3.75£2.79
$2.54MX$43.82
47.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.03£4.50
$10.03MX$173
-39.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.83£5.09
$8.09MX$140
-15.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.04£9.72
$11.62MX$201
12.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31£2.47
$2.97MX$51.3
11.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.97£1.47
$1.81MX$31.21
8.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72£2.77
$2.01MX$34.79
85.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.54£2.64
$2.03MX$35.16
74.38%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97£1.46
$2.12MX$36.71
-7.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10£1.57
$2.27MX$39.21
-7.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21£0.90
$1.40MX$24.20
-13.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46£1.09
$1.13MX$19.53
29.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.80£14.75
$4.27MX$73.8
363.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.53£7.10
$15.56MX$269
-38.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.51£2.62
$1.76MX$30.36
99.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25£3.16
$3.60MX$62.1
18.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.34£2.49
$0.38MX$6.62
778.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$89.7£66.9
$19.18MX$331
367.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.91£5.15
$1.38MX$23.77
400.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56£1.16
$0.28MX$4.78
457.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$53.3£39.69
$5.45MX$94.1
877.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$1.30MX$22.53
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K£18.6K
$18.7KMX$322.9K
33.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K£19.6K
$23.1KMX$399.7K
13.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$252£188
$40.86MX$706
516.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.62£11.64
$26.81MX$463
-41.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.76£25.15
$29.96MX$518
12.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.4£44.25
$52.0MX$899
14.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$16.51£12.30
$6.30MX$109
162.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,296£1,711
$436MX$7,536
426.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.8K£17.0K
$10.4KMX$180.0K
118.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$88.3£65.8
$56.7MX$979
55.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.50£21.98
$44.38MX$767
-33.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.7£63.9
$103MX$1,779
-16.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6£68.2
$106MX$1,823
-13.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,293£963
$1,022MX$17.7K
26.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$995£741
$631MX$10.9K
57.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,866£1,390
$2,136MX$36.9K
-12.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,283£956
$1,243MX$21.5K
3.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,583£4,905
$3,903MX$67.4K
68.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,754£3,542
$2,064MX$35.7K
130.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ashford
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,481£1,849
$1,115MX$19.3K
122.52%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
11.34
-51.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ashford: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,293 in Ashford and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ashford pays 123% 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: $95.0 in Ashford vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $290 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
Ashford vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Ashford?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 55% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ashford or Mexico City?
Ashford pays 123% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Ashford and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,293 in Ashford versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Ashford or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $95.0 in Ashford. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Ashford vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,268 per month in Ashford versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Ashford or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,268 in Ashford, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Ashford. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ashford or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ashford, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ashford or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Ashford 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Ashford. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.