πA single person spends $3,092 per month in Croydon vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.
πA couple spends around $4,176 per month in Croydon vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.
πA family of three spends $5,261 per month in Croydon vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.
πCroydon costs about 108% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth Croydon and Mexico City sit above the global median β Croydon by 131%, Mexico City by 11%.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19Β£11.98
$12.98MX$226
24.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.8Β£49.39
$53.1MX$923
25.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.38Β£6.94
$9.72MX$169
-3.50%
Cappuccino
$4.78Β£3.54
$3.75MX$65.2
27.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33Β£1.72
$1.57MX$27.30
48.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32Β£0.98
$1.13MX$19.64
16.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.84Β£5.06
$3.18MX$55.3
115.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.30Β£3.92
$4.66MX$81.1
13.73%
π Groceries & Markets
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86Β£1.38
$1.62MX$28.21
14.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54Β£1.14
$2.71MX$47.09
-43.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.72Β£2.01
$1.88MX$32.70
44.68%
Eggs
$3.63Β£2.68
$2.51MX$43.65
44.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.63Β£5.65
$10.08MX$175
-24.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.96Β£5.89
$8.29MX$144
-3.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.67Β£10.86
$11.94MX$208
22.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44Β£1.80
$2.86MX$49.77
-14.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Β£0.96
$1.75MX$30.45
-26.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08Β£2.28
$2.08MX$36.27
48.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.88Β£1.39
$1.97MX$34.27
-4.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Β£0.98
$2.16MX$37.58
-38.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.24Β£0.92
$2.18MX$37.94
-43.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.51Β£1.12
$1.39MX$24.20
8.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.50Β£1.11
$1.12MX$19.57
33.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.56Β£15.22
$4.20MX$73.1
389.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.73Β£7.20
$14.25MX$248
-31.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40Β£1.78
$1.76MX$30.68
36.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Β£2.35
$3.68MX$64.1
-13.59%
π Getting Around
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.45Β£1.81
$0.39MX$6.71
528.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$123Β£90.8
$18.66MX$325
557.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.59Β£4.88
$1.39MX$24.12
374.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17Β£1.60
$0.30MX$5.29
623.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$55.3Β£40.95
$5.42MX$94.3
921.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97Β£1.46
$1.35MX$23.50
45.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.3KΒ£28.4K
$18.9KMX$328.6K
102.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.4KΒ£30.6K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
78.81%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$365Β£270
$40.82MX$710
793.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.46Β£12.18
$27.50MX$479
-40.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.90Β£33.23
$30.38MX$529
47.79%
π Sport & Entertainment
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$34.93Β£25.85
$53.4MX$930
-34.62%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.67Β£10.11
$26.30MX$458
-48.02%
Cinema Ticket
$11.36Β£8.41
$6.27MX$109
81.18%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,624Β£1,202
$436MX$7,588
272.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.5KΒ£13.7K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
76.91%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$73.6Β£54.4
$56.8MX$988
29.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5Β£37.39
$44.79MX$779
12.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.0Β£62.2
$103MX$1,789
-18.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$159Β£118
$108MX$1,878
47.63%
π Accommodation & Living
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,993Β£1,475
$1,000MX$17.4K
99.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,658Β£1,227
$620MX$10.8K
167.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,739Β£2,027
$2,137MX$37.2K
28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,448Β£1,811
$1,235MX$21.5K
98.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,960Β£6,630
$3,865MX$67.3K
131.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,007Β£5,185
$2,332MX$40.6K
200.44%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Croydon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,480Β£3,315
$1,067MX$18.6K
319.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.08
11.34
-46.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Croydon: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A central one-bedroom costs $1,993 in Croydon versus $1,000 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.
π°Salaries run about 320% higher in Croydon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
πA mid-range dinner for two costs $67.0 in Croydon versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story β $276 in Croydon vs $286 in Mexico City β so Croydon 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
Croydon vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Croydon?
Yes β Croydon is pricier by about 108%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $4,638 per month in Croydon and $2,225 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled β 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 Croydon vs Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,092 in Croydon and $1,484 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category β it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 558% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Croydon or Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Croydon at $3,092. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Croydon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Croydon or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City β lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
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, Croydon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.