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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,317 per month in Atenas vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,246 per month in Atenas vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,175 per month in Atenas vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Atenas is about 10% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Atenas sits 2% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.13 ₡4,172

$13.18 MX$228

-30.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.1 ₡23.3K

$53.9 MX$931

-5.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.11 ₡4,621

$9.42 MX$163

7.32%

Cappuccino

$3.75 ₡1,712

$3.55 MX$61.3

5.63%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₡932

$1.62 MX$27.95

25.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 ₡722

$1.11 MX$19.25

42.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.04 ₡1,389

$3.12 MX$53.9

-2.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.62 ₡2,109

$4.63 MX$80.0

-0.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.03 ₡928

$1.70 MX$29.40

19.41%

White Bread (500g)

$2.88 ₡1,318

$2.72 MX$46.97

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 ₡922

$1.91 MX$33.04

5.76%

Eggs

$2.89 ₡1,319

$2.54 MX$43.82

13.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.67 ₡4,419

$10.03 MX$173

-3.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.71 ₡3,977

$8.09 MX$140

7.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 ₡4,319

$11.62 MX$201

-18.67%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 ₡1,845

$2.97 MX$51.3

36.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 ₡665

$1.81 MX$31.21

-19.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.40 ₡1,098

$2.01 MX$34.79

19.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.14 ₡977

$2.03 MX$35.16

5.42%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,581

$2.12 MX$36.71

63.21%

Onion (1kg)

$2.37 ₡1,084

$2.27 MX$39.21

4.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 ₡462

$1.40 MX$24.20

-27.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.85 ₡1,304

$1.13 MX$19.53

152.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.29 ₡2,416

$4.27 MX$73.8

23.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.62 ₡8,507

$15.56 MX$269

19.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.39 ₡1,094

$1.76 MX$30.36

35.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.33 ₡1,064

$3.60 MX$62.1

-35.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.95 ₡889

$0.38 MX$6.62

413.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$331

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₡854

$1.38 MX$23.77

35.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.77 ₡810

$0.28 MX$4.78

532.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.97 ₡3,641

$5.45 MX$94.1

46.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.42 ₡648

$1.30 MX$22.53

9.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.3K ₡17.0M

$18.7K MX$322.9K

99.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.2K ₡14.7M

$23.1K MX$399.7K

39.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$94.9 ₡43.3K

$40.86 MX$706

132.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.36 ₡12.0K

$26.81 MX$463

-1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.53 ₡21.7K

$29.96 MX$518

58.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.43 ₡18.5K

$52.0 MX$899

-22.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.73 ₡4,447

$26.84 MX$464

-63.75%

Cinema Ticket

$8.57 ₡3,917

$6.30 MX$109

36.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$580 ₡264.9K

$436 MX$7,536

32.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 ₡2.8M

$10.4K MX$180.0K

-41.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.1 ₡28.4K

$56.7 MX$979

9.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.88 ₡22.8K

$44.38 MX$767

12.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 ₡55.3K

$103 MX$1,779

17.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 ₡48.7K

$106 MX$1,823

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$545 ₡249.1K

$1,022 MX$17.7K

-46.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$404 ₡184.4K

$631 MX$10.9K

-36.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,362 ₡622.1K

$2,136 MX$36.9K

-36.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 ₡524.7K

$1,243 MX$21.5K

-7.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,306 ₡596.6K

$1,115 MX$19.3K

17.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.17

11.34

-10.32%

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

Last update for Atenas: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $545 in Atenas versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Atenas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Atenas versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $326 in Atenas vs $288 in Mexico City – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Atenas vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,975 per month in Atenas and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Atenas and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 13% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,317, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Atenas. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.