😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,630 in Athlone versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in Athlone versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,029 in Athlone versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Athlone is roughly 59% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Athlone92% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.58€18.80
$11.92MX$205
81.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$92.7€80.7
$51.6MX$886
79.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.20€11.50
$11.41MX$196
15.69%
Cappuccino
$4.35€3.79
$3.99MX$68.6
9.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07€2.68
$1.66MX$28.48
84.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97€1.71
$1.33MX$22.77
48.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.56€6.58
$3.47MX$59.6
117.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.06€6.15
$5.90MX$101
19.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.45€1.26
$1.88MX$32.21
-22.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.35€1.18
$3.25MX$55.9
-58.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74€1.51
$2.16MX$37.10
-19.44%
Eggs
$4.09€3.57
$2.90MX$49.72
41.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.28€9.82
$12.86MX$221
-12.29%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.95€10.41
$10.05MX$173
18.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.23€10.66
$15.86MX$272
-22.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.65€2.31
$3.29MX$56.6
-19.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67€1.46
$2.01MX$34.44
-16.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.43€2.11
$2.20MX$37.76
10.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99€2.61
$2.36MX$40.44
26.69%
Potato(1kg)
$2.32€2.03
$2.05MX$35.27
13.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81€1.57
$1.90MX$32.64
-4.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45€1.26
$1.61MX$27.55
-9.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02€1.76
$1.40MX$23.98
44.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$18.76€16.34
$5.46MX$93.8
243.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.77€10.25
$17.65MX$303
-33.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.37€2.93
$2.06MX$35.28
63.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57€3.11
$4.68MX$80.4
-23.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.14€1.86
$0.34MX$5.81
529.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$20.81MX$357
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.19€4.52
$2.10MX$35.99
147.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.53€1.33
$0.56MX$9.60
173.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.35€24.70
$5.81MX$99.8
387.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.03€1.77
$1.61MX$27.56
26.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7K€34.6K
$22.8KMX$392.1K
73.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$38.2K€33.3K
$26.8KMX$459.2K
42.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$247€215
$65.2MX$1,119
278.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.19€19.33
$30.09MX$517
-26.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.25€42.91
$37.18MX$638
32.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.1€51.4
$59.8MX$1,026
-1.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.97€31.33
$26.55MX$456
35.48%
Cinema Ticket
$11.32€9.87
$7.04MX$121
60.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,037€903
$465MX$7,976
123.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,614€4,891
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-57.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.5€86.7
$75.9MX$1,303
31.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.04€36.63
$56.0MX$960
-24.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7€77.2
$112MX$1,920
-20.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.5€67.5
$121MX$2,068
-35.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,515€1,320
$1,103MX$18.9K
37.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,395€1,215
$721MX$12.4K
93.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,640€2,300
$2,530MX$43.4K
4.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,332€2,031
$1,293MX$22.2K
80.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,400€2,962
$3,991MX$68.5K
-14.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,458€3,013
$2,090MX$35.9K
65.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athlone
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,232€2,816
$1,037MX$17.8K
211.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.73
11.3
-66.99%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Athlone: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,515 in Athlone and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Athlone pays 212% 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: $93.0 in Athlone vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $318 vs $345, with Athlone cheaper for home cooking.
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
Athlone vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athlone or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Athlone. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athlone or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 212% higher in Athlone, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athlone compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,515 in Athlone versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Athlone or in Mexico City?
Shoppers in Athlone pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How much does it cost to live in Athlone compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,630 per month in Athlone versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 59% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Athlone or in Mexico City?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,630 in Athlone, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Athlone. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athlone or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,660 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Athlone compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Athlone 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Athlone. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.