😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,214 in Derby versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,247 in Derby versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,279 in Derby versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Derby is roughly 50% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Derby66% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.53A$23.45
$13.14MX$227
25.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$77.5A$110
$53.5MX$926
44.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.00A$14.19
$9.33MX$161
7.18%
Cappuccino
$3.50A$4.97
$3.70MX$64.0
-5.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51A$3.56
$1.60MX$27.76
56.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11A$2.99
$1.12MX$19.34
88.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.64A$9.43
$3.14MX$54.3
111.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.05A$10.00
$4.85MX$83.9
45.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49A$2.12
$1.65MX$28.61
-9.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.33A$3.31
$2.71MX$46.96
-14.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.03A$2.89
$1.91MX$33.03
6.28%
Eggs
$4.36A$6.18
$2.59MX$44.81
68.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.75A$12.41
$9.81MX$170
-10.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.30A$11.77
$8.43MX$146
-1.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.81A$19.60
$11.93MX$206
15.76%
Apples(1kg)
$3.34A$4.74
$2.95MX$51.1
13.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.87A$4.08
$1.74MX$30.10
64.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.88A$4.09
$2.04MX$35.38
41.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.20A$5.95
$2.06MX$35.64
103.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.44A$3.46
$2.15MX$37.20
13.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20A$3.12
$2.26MX$39.02
-2.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.15A$3.06
$1.39MX$23.97
54.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.57A$2.22
$1.12MX$19.31
40.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$31.47A$44.66
$4.22MX$73.0
645.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.36A$18.96
$17.51MX$303
-23.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.55A$6.46
$1.71MX$29.58
166.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.37A$7.63
$3.63MX$62.8
47.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.64A$3.74
$0.35MX$6.10
654.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$64.7A$91.8
$19.32MX$334
234.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.67A$5.21
$1.38MX$23.80
165.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.56A$2.22
$0.28MX$4.77
457.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.14A$47.02
$5.28MX$91.3
527.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19A$1.69
$1.36MX$23.50
-12.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5KA$40.5K
$19.1KMX$330.5K
49.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.0KA$31.3K
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-6.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$186A$264
$40.53MX$701
359.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.12A$38.49
$27.38MX$474
-0.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.5A$74.5
$30.38MX$526
72.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.93A$68.0
$52.2MX$903
-8.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.48A$21.96
$26.48MX$458
-41.54%
Cinema Ticket
$12.99A$18.43
$6.19MX$107
109.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,623A$2,302
$425MX$7,355
281.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.1KA$17.2K
$10.7KMX$185.7K
12.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6A$97.3
$58.3MX$1,009
17.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.2A$72.7
$44.57MX$771
14.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101A$143
$103MX$1,791
-2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108A$153
$109MX$1,881
-0.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,250A$1,773
$1,014MX$17.5K
23.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,075A$1,526
$623MX$10.8K
72.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,988A$2,821
$2,119MX$36.7K
-6.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,676A$2,378
$1,223MX$21.2K
37.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,565A$9,315
$3,792MX$65.6K
73.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,918A$6,978
$2,110MX$36.5K
133.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Derby
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.34
11.34
-44.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Derby: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,250 in Derby and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $77.0 in Derby vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $339 vs $293 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
Derby vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Derby and in Mexico City?
Derby and Mexico City differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($2,214 vs $1,472 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Derby compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $3,321 in Derby and $2,208 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Derby and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,250 in Derby versus $1,014 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 15% higher in Derby. 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 – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $77.0 in Derby. 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 $1,472 in Mexico City versus $2,214 in Derby, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Derby. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Derby and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Derby or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Derby 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: Derby or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Derby. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.