Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, TN and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens, TN and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,584 per month in Athens, TN vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,624 per month in Athens, TN vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,663 per month in Athens, TN vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Athens, TN costs about 74% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Athens, TN and Mexico City sit above the global median – Athens, TN by 93%, Mexico City by 11%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$21.89 $21.89

$12.98 MX$227

68.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.64 $35.64

$53.1 MX$929

-32.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.85 $8.85

$9.72 MX$170

-8.95%

Cappuccino

$3.02 $3.02

$3.75 MX$65.6

-19.47%

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

$1.96 $1.96

$1.57 MX$27.46

24.84%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.13 MX$19.76

84.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.49 $6.49

$3.18 MX$55.7

104.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.17 $8.17

$4.66 MX$81.6

75.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.62 MX$28.37

-41.36%

White Bread (500g)

$2.31 $2.31

$2.71 MX$47.36

-14.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$1.88 MX$32.89

146.81%

Eggs

$4.40 $4.40

$2.51 MX$43.90

75.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 $13.62

$10.08 MX$176

35.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 $6.41

$8.29 MX$145

-22.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.87 $10.87

$11.94 MX$209

-8.96%

Apples (1kg)

$4.43 $4.43

$2.86 MX$50.1

54.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 $1.35

$1.75 MX$30.62

-22.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.64 $4.64

$2.08 MX$36.48

123.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.95 $3.95

$1.97 MX$34.46

100.51%

Potato (1kg)

$3.78 $3.78

$2.16 MX$37.79

75.00%

Onion (1kg)

$3.34 $3.34

$2.18 MX$38.16

53.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 $2.29

$1.39 MX$24.34

64.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 $1.82

$1.12 MX$19.69

62.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.21 $7.21

$4.20 MX$73.5

71.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.81 $15.81

$14.25 MX$249

10.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 $1.77

$1.76 MX$30.85

0.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 $1.59

$3.68 MX$64.5

-56.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.98 $1.98

$0.39 MX$6.74

407.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 $2.96

$1.39 MX$24.26

112.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.30 MX$5.32

383.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$40.61 $40.61

$5.42 MX$94.9

649.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 $0.80

$1.35 MX$23.63

-40.74%

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

$32.1K $32.1K

$18.9K MX$330.5K

70.11%

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

$26.6K $26.6K

$23.2K MX$405.2K

15.06%

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

$243 $243

$40.82 MX$714

494.34%

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

$54.5 $54.5

$27.50 MX$481

98.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$58.0 $58.0

$30.38 MX$532

90.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.58 $42.58

$53.4 MX$935

-20.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$8.18 $8.18

$6.27 MX$110

30.46%

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

$1,347 $1,347

$436 MX$7,632

208.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.3K $30.3K

$10.5K MX$183.2K

189.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.9 $70.9

$56.8 MX$993

24.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.81 $38.81

$44.79 MX$784

-13.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 $102

$103 MX$1,799

-0.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 $128

$108 MX$1,888

18.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,600 $1,600

$1,000 MX$17.5K

60.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 $1,367

$620 MX$10.9K

120.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,637 $2,637

$2,137 MX$37.4K

23.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,245 $2,245

$1,235 MX$21.6K

81.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,040 $2,040

$3,865 MX$67.6K

-47.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,052 $2,052

$2,332 MX$40.8K

-12.03%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,398 $8,398

$1,067 MX$18.7K

686.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.56

11.34

-42.15%

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

Last update for Athens, TN: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,600 in Athens, TN versus $1,000 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 687% higher in Athens, TN, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Athens, TN versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $336 in Athens, TN vs $286 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

Athens, TN vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Athens, TN costs about 74% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,876 per month in Athens, TN and $2,225 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, 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 $36.00 in Athens, TN and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 17% more in Athens, TN, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Athens, TN at $2,584. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Athens, TN it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,484 versus $2,584 in Athens, TN. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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