😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,148 in Cheltenham versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,224 in Cheltenham versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,300 in Cheltenham versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Cheltenham is roughly 46% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cheltenham60% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.14£15.00
$13.18MX$228
52.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.4£59.9
$53.9MX$934
49.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.04£8.22
$9.42MX$163
17.20%
Cappuccino
$4.55£3.39
$3.55MX$61.5
28.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04£1.52
$1.62MX$28.03
25.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38£1.03
$1.11MX$19.31
24.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.57£4.15
$3.12MX$54.1
78.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84£5.10
$4.63MX$80.2
47.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46£1.09
$1.70MX$29.48
-14.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.71£0.53
$2.72MX$47.10
-73.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.98£1.47
$1.91MX$33.13
3.66%
Eggs
$4.45£3.32
$2.54MX$43.94
75.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.75£3.53
$10.03MX$174
-52.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.41£5.52
$8.09MX$140
-8.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.55£11.58
$11.62MX$201
33.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.07£1.54
$2.97MX$51.4
-30.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72£1.28
$1.81MX$31.30
-4.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07£1.54
$2.01MX$34.88
2.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.45£2.57
$2.03MX$35.26
69.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34£1.00
$2.12MX$36.82
-36.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85£1.37
$2.27MX$39.32
-18.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07£0.80
$1.40MX$24.26
-23.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57£1.17
$1.13MX$19.59
38.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.02£12.68
$4.27MX$74.0
298.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.02£8.21
$15.56MX$270
-29.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.45
$1.76MX$30.44
10.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94£1.44
$3.60MX$62.3
-46.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.50£2.60
$0.38MX$6.64
821.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3£42.65
$19.18MX$332
198.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.99£2.97
$1.38MX$23.84
189.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.39£1.04
$0.28MX$4.79
396.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$25.82£19.23
$5.45MX$94.4
373.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97£1.47
$1.30MX$22.60
51.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.5K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
104.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0K£31.2K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
81.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$257£191
$40.86MX$708
528.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.72£11.71
$26.81MX$465
-41.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.39£31.57
$29.96MX$519
41.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.97£32.75
$52.0MX$901
-15.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.08£17.93
$26.84MX$465
-10.28%
Cinema Ticket
$13.34£9.94
$6.30MX$109
111.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,374£1,023
$436MX$7,558
215.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.6K£10.2K
$10.4KMX$180.5K
30.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112£83.4
$56.7MX$982
97.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.79£26.65
$44.38MX$769
-19.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112£83.3
$103MX$1,784
8.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.2£72.4
$106MX$1,829
-7.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,209£900
$1,022MX$17.7K
18.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$937£698
$631MX$10.9K
48.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,271£1,691
$2,136MX$37.0K
6.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,637£1,219
$1,243MX$21.5K
31.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,704£4,248
$3,903MX$67.6K
46.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,779£4,304
$2,064MX$35.8K
179.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cheltenham
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,932£2,929
$1,115MX$19.3K
252.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.79
11.34
-48.94%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cheltenham: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,209 in Cheltenham and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cheltenham pays 253% 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: $80.0 in Cheltenham vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $258 vs $288, with Cheltenham 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
Cheltenham vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Cheltenham?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 46% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cheltenham or Mexico City?
Cheltenham pays 253% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Cheltenham and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,209 in Cheltenham versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Cheltenham or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $80.0 in Cheltenham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Cheltenham vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,148 per month in Cheltenham versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 46% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Cheltenham or Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,148 in Cheltenham, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Cheltenham. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Cheltenham or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cheltenham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cheltenham or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Cheltenham 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Cheltenham. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Cheltenham vs other spots: cost of living compared