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 $1,305 per month in Atenas vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,221 per month in Atenas vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,137 per month in Atenas vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.

Atenas is about 11% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Atenas sits 2% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.84 ₡3,976

$13.14 MX$229

-32.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.7 ₡23.7K

$53.5 MX$934

-1.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.24 ₡4,608

$9.33 MX$163

9.75%

Cappuccino

$3.76 ₡1,690

$3.70 MX$64.5

1.62%

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

$2.07 ₡933

$1.60 MX$27.98

29.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 ₡721

$1.12 MX$19.49

42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.07 ₡1,380

$3.14 MX$54.7

-2.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.54 ₡2,042

$4.85 MX$84.5

-6.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 ₡891

$1.65 MX$28.84

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.86 ₡1,289

$2.71 MX$47.34

5.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.94 ₡872

$1.91 MX$33.29

1.57%

Eggs

$2.98 ₡1,342

$2.59 MX$45.17

15.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.04 ₡4,518

$9.81 MX$171

2.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.78 ₡3,951

$8.43 MX$147

4.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.55 ₡4,299

$11.93 MX$208

-19.95%

Apples (1kg)

$4.04 ₡1,817

$2.95 MX$51.5

36.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 ₡677

$1.74 MX$30.35

-13.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,086

$2.04 MX$35.66

18.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.24 ₡1,009

$2.06 MX$35.93

8.74%

Potato (1kg)

$3.46 ₡1,558

$2.15 MX$37.49

60.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.41 ₡1,086

$2.26 MX$39.33

6.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 ₡465

$1.39 MX$24.17

-25.90%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.93 ₡1,317

$1.12 MX$19.47

161.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.28 ₡2,377

$4.22 MX$73.6

25.12%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.04 ₡8,567

$17.51 MX$305

8.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,082

$1.71 MX$29.82

40.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 ₡1,081

$3.63 MX$63.4

-33.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 ₡871

$0.35 MX$6.15

454.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.85 ₡833

$1.38 MX$24.00

34.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.87 ₡840

$0.28 MX$4.81

567.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.87 ₡3,540

$5.28 MX$92.0

49.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ₡635

$1.36 MX$23.69

3.68%

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

$37.9K ₡17.1M

$19.1K MX$333.2K

98.59%

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

$32.3K ₡14.5M

$23.6K MX$411.7K

36.92%

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

$94.2 ₡42.4K

$40.53 MX$707

132.35%

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

$26.02 ₡11.7K

$27.38 MX$478

-4.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$47.33 ₡21.3K

$30.38 MX$530

55.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.51 ₡18.2K

$52.2 MX$911

-22.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.69 ₡4,362

$26.48 MX$462

-63.41%

Cinema Ticket

$8.36 ₡3,761

$6.19 MX$108

35.06%

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

$561 ₡252.6K

$425 MX$7,414

32.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,006 ₡2.7M

$10.7K MX$187.2K

-44.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.0 ₡27.9K

$58.3 MX$1,017

6.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.97 ₡22.5K

$44.57 MX$777

12.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$120 ₡53.9K

$103 MX$1,805

15.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 ₡48.5K

$109 MX$1,897

-0.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 ₡242.5K

$1,014 MX$17.7K

-46.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$406 ₡182.5K

$623 MX$10.9K

-34.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 ₡611.3K

$2,119 MX$37.0K

-35.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,141 ₡513.4K

$1,223 MX$21.3K

-6.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,301 ₡585.4K

$1,052 MX$18.4K

23.63%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $539 in Atenas versus $1,014 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 24% 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 $53.0 in Atenas versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $330 in Atenas vs $293 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 13%, 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 $1,958 per month in Atenas and $2,208 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 $53.0 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 $1,305, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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.