😐A single person spends $1,901 per month in Barnsley vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,913 per month in Barnsley vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,925 per month in Barnsley vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Barnsley costs about 15% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Barnsley and Mexico City sit above the global median – Barnsley by 38%, Mexico City by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.10£17.83
$12.11MX$205
99.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.6£62.6
$52.2MX$882
62.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.86£8.03
$10.90MX$184
-0.37%
Cappuccino
$5.17£3.83
$4.05MX$68.4
27.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32£1.71
$1.72MX$28.96
34.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72£1.27
$1.38MX$23.26
24.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.12£4.53
$3.47MX$58.5
76.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.82£5.05
$5.81MX$98.1
17.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66£1.23
$1.85MX$31.30
-10.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97£1.46
$3.22MX$54.4
-38.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.10£1.56
$2.09MX$35.21
0.48%
Eggs
$4.02£2.98
$2.91MX$49.12
38.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.90£6.58
$12.49MX$211
-28.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.77£6.48
$10.11MX$171
-13.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.00£11.10
$15.89MX$268
-5.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.02£2.24
$3.31MX$56.0
-8.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.96£1.45
$2.13MX$35.91
-7.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.59£1.92
$2.19MX$36.99
18.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.87£2.13
$2.45MX$41.33
17.14%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93£1.42
$2.19MX$36.96
-11.87%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65£1.22
$1.90MX$32.16
-13.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50£1.11
$1.62MX$27.28
-7.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.42£1.05
$1.35MX$22.79
5.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.59£17.45
$5.43MX$91.6
334.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.71£8.66
$17.59MX$297
-33.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36£2.49
$2.07MX$34.92
62.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39£2.51
$4.75MX$80.1
-28.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.69£1.99
$0.34MX$5.74
691.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$364
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.40£4.00
$2.04MX$34.45
164.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46£1.08
$0.58MX$9.76
151.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.57£14.48
$5.97MX$101
227.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02£1.49
$1.62MX$27.28
24.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K£28.9K
$22.8KMX$385.2K
71.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.1K£30.4K
$26.7KMX$450.2K
54.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$291£215
$65.2MX$1,102
345.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.89£15.45
$29.87MX$504
-30.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.29£32.77
$36.55MX$617
21.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.2£49.69
$61.0MX$1,030
10.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.84£9.50
$6.85MX$116
87.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,485£1,098
$453MX$7,656
227.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K£12.2K
$13.4KMX$225.8K
23.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.6£46.33
$75.0MX$1,266
-16.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.60£31.52
$55.3MX$934
-22.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.2£69.7
$114MX$1,918
-17.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.4£58.0
$123MX$2,071
-36.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$938£694
$1,134MX$19.1K
-17.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$677£501
$712MX$12.0K
-4.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,389£1,028
$2,571MX$43.4K
-45.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,118£827
$1,311MX$22.1K
-14.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.4K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barnsley
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,030£2,242
$1,047MX$17.7K
189.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.61
11.3
-50.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barnsley: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $938 in Barnsley versus $1,134 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 189% higher in Barnsley, 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 $85.0 in Barnsley versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $307 in Barnsley vs $345 in Mexico City – so Barnsley 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
Barnsley vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Barnsley?
Yes – Barnsley is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,851 per month in Barnsley and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Barnsley and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,901 in Barnsley and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,485 per month in Barnsley and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Barnsley or in Mexico City?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,646, than in Barnsley at $1,901. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Barnsley it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Barnsley or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Barnsley or Mexico City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Barnsley makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.