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 $2,072 per month in Athens, TN vs $1,660 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,194 per month in Athens, TN vs $2,565 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,316 per month in Athens, TN vs $3,470 in Mexico City, rent included.

Athens, TN costs about 25% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Athens, TN and Mexico City sit above the global median – Athens, TN by 51%, Mexico City by 21%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$30.09 $30.09

$11.92 MX$205

152.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$116 $116

$51.6 MX$889

125.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.77 $11.77

$11.41 MX$197

3.16%

Cappuccino

$5.66 $5.66

$3.99 MX$68.8

41.85%

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

$2.93 $2.93

$1.66 MX$28.57

76.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 $2.09

$1.33 MX$22.84

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.72 $7.72

$3.47 MX$59.8

122.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.03 $8.03

$5.90 MX$102

36.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.95 $0.95

$1.88 MX$32.31

-49.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.47 $2.47

$3.25 MX$56.0

-24.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.77 $3.77

$2.16 MX$37.21

74.54%

Eggs

$4.90 $4.90

$2.90 MX$49.87

68.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.98 $14.98

$12.86 MX$221

16.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.51 $6.51

$10.05 MX$173

-35.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.93 $21.93

$15.86 MX$273

38.27%

Apples (1kg)

$6.13 $6.13

$3.29 MX$56.7

86.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.46 $1.46

$2.01 MX$34.55

-27.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.02 $6.02

$2.20 MX$37.88

173.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.46 $5.46

$2.36 MX$40.57

131.36%

Potato (1kg)

$3.61 $3.61

$2.05 MX$35.38

76.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 $2.65

$1.90 MX$32.75

39.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.19 $2.19

$1.61 MX$27.64

36.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 $1.70

$1.40 MX$24.05

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.84 $6.84

$5.46 MX$94.1

25.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.26 $15.26

$17.65 MX$304

-13.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 $1.97

$2.06 MX$35.39

-4.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.04 $5.04

$4.68 MX$80.7

7.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.03 $2.03

$0.34 MX$5.83

497.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$358

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 $3.44

$2.10 MX$36.11

63.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.45 $1.45

$0.56 MX$9.63

158.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$24.12 $24.12

$5.81 MX$100

315.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 $0.74

$1.61 MX$27.65

-54.04%

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

$36.8K $36.8K

$22.8K MX$393.3K

61.22%

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

$25.9K $25.9K

$26.8K MX$460.6K

-3.31%

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

$198 $198

$65.2 MX$1,122

203.47%

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

$70.8 $70.8

$30.09 MX$518

135.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.5 $54.5

$37.18 MX$640

46.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$41.29 $41.29

$59.8 MX$1,029

-30.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$457

Cinema Ticket

$8.20 $8.20

$7.04 MX$121

16.48%

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

$1,865 $1,865

$465 MX$8,001

301.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.4K $22.4K

$13.3K MX$228.6K

68.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.9 $52.9

$75.9 MX$1,307

-30.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.12 $44.12

$56.0 MX$963

-21.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.3 $95.3

$112 MX$1,926

-14.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 $107

$121 MX$2,075

-11.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 $863

$1,103 MX$19.0K

-21.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$718 $718

$721 MX$12.4K

-0.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 $1,464

$2,530 MX$43.6K

-42.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,159 $1,159

$1,293 MX$22.3K

-10.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,702 $2,702

$3,991 MX$68.7K

-32.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,405 $2,405

$2,090 MX$36.0K

15.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$8,357 $8,357

$1,037 MX$17.9K

705.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.18

11.3

-45.31%

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

Last update for Athens, TN: September 15, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $863 in Athens, TN versus $1,103 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 706% 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 $116 in Athens, TN versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $399 vs $345 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 25% 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 $3,109 per month in Athens, TN and $2,489 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 $116 in Athens, TN and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% 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 $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Athens, TN at $2,072. 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 $1,660 versus $2,072 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.