πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $2,879 in Bristol versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $4,130 in Bristol versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,380 in Bristol versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Bristol is roughly 96% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Bristol115% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.34Β£15.15
$13.18MX$228
54.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$104Β£77.3
$53.9MX$934
92.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.75Β£8.00
$9.42MX$163
14.12%
Cappuccino
$5.14Β£3.83
$3.55MX$61.5
44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70Β£2.01
$1.62MX$28.03
66.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73Β£1.29
$1.11MX$19.31
55.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.94Β£5.92
$3.12MX$54.1
154.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.80Β£5.07
$4.63MX$80.2
46.87%
π Groceries & Markets
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56Β£1.16
$1.70MX$29.48
-8.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.35Β£1.75
$2.72MX$47.10
-13.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87Β£1.39
$1.91MX$33.13
-2.09%
Eggs
$4.18Β£3.11
$2.54MX$43.94
64.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.30Β£9.16
$10.03MX$174
22.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.36Β£8.46
$8.09MX$140
40.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.15Β£9.05
$11.62MX$201
4.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39Β£2.52
$2.97MX$51.4
14.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64Β£1.22
$1.81MX$31.30
-9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.73Β£2.03
$2.01MX$34.88
35.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.98Β£2.97
$2.03MX$35.26
96.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04Β£1.52
$2.12MX$36.82
-3.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Β£1.32
$2.27MX$39.32
-21.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Β£0.89
$1.40MX$24.26
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Β£1.39
$1.13MX$19.59
64.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.50Β£15.27
$4.27MX$74.0
380.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.83Β£8.07
$15.56MX$270
-30.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98Β£2.22
$1.76MX$30.44
69.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70Β£2.01
$3.60MX$62.3
-25.00%
π Getting Around
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.11Β£2.32
$0.38MX$6.64
718.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$115Β£85.5
$19.18MX$332
498.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.58Β£4.15
$1.38MX$23.84
304.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.69Β£1.26
$0.28MX$4.79
503.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$27.71Β£20.64
$5.45MX$94.4
408.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.90Β£1.42
$1.30MX$22.60
46.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2KΒ£28.5K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
104.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KΒ£26.3K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
52.72%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$301Β£224
$40.86MX$708
637.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.75Β£12.48
$26.81MX$465
-37.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.52Β£33.90
$29.96MX$519
51.94%
π Sport & Entertainment
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.81Β£37.10
$52.0MX$901
-4.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.12Β£7.54
$26.84MX$465
-62.30%
Cinema Ticket
$13.72Β£10.22
$6.30MX$109
117.78%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,193Β£1,633
$436MX$7,558
402.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$24.2KΒ£18.0K
$10.4KMX$180.5K
131.97%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$95.6Β£71.2
$56.7MX$982
68.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.61Β£36.20
$44.38MX$769
9.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112Β£83.5
$103MX$1,784
8.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138Β£103
$106MX$1,829
31.20%
π Accommodation & Living
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,852Β£1,379
$1,022MX$17.7K
81.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,391Β£1,036
$631MX$10.9K
120.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,094Β£2,305
$2,136MX$37.0K
44.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,285Β£1,702
$1,243MX$21.5K
83.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,918Β£5,153
$3,903MX$67.6K
77.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,209Β£3,880
$2,064MX$35.8K
152.33%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Bristol
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,777Β£2,813
$1,115MX$19.3K
238.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.6
11.34
-50.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bristol: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,852 in Bristol and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Bristol pays 239% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $104 in Bristol vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $330 vs $288 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
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
Bristol vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bristol and Mexico City?
Bristol and Mexico City differ by about 96% in total monthly costs ($2,879 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Bristol or Mexico City?
Bristol pays 239% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Bristol and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,852 in Bristol versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Bristol. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City β a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $104 in Bristol. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,879 in Bristol, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bristol. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bristol and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Bristol or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Bristol 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.
Where should expats move: Bristol or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet β expenses run 96% less than in Bristol. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.