😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,107 in Grafton versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,143 in Grafton versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,179 in Grafton versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Grafton is roughly 46% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grafton57% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.13A$22.79
$12.98MX$223
24.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.2A$101
$52.6MX$903
35.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.63A$13.61
$9.43MX$162
2.12%
Cappuccino
$3.14A$4.43
$3.57MX$61.3
-12.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59A$3.65
$1.61MX$27.55
60.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21A$3.12
$1.15MX$19.81
92.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.41A$9.06
$3.15MX$54.0
103.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.90A$11.17
$4.86MX$83.4
62.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.07A$1.51
$1.70MX$29.17
-37.06%
White Bread(500g)
$2.22A$3.14
$2.64MX$45.23
-15.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88A$2.66
$1.90MX$32.67
-1.05%
Eggs
$3.33A$4.71
$2.54MX$43.62
31.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.98A$11.27
$10.08MX$173
-20.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.20A$10.18
$8.29MX$142
-13.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.60A$19.21
$11.57MX$199
17.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.53A$3.58
$3.03MX$52.0
-16.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32A$1.87
$1.71MX$29.35
-22.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74A$3.88
$2.05MX$35.16
33.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.36A$6.17
$2.06MX$35.36
111.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.93A$2.73
$2.06MX$35.43
-6.31%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12A$2.99
$2.17MX$37.25
-2.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66A$2.34
$1.40MX$24.08
18.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.00A$1.42
$1.12MX$19.26
-10.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$28.51A$40.29
$4.29MX$73.7
564.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.91A$18.25
$15.41MX$265
-16.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$4.57A$6.45
$1.67MX$28.74
173.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.23A$5.98
$3.69MX$63.3
14.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.67A$3.77
$0.38MX$6.55
602.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.7A$92.9
$19.06MX$327
244.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25A$3.18
$1.38MX$23.70
63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54A$2.17
$0.28MX$4.74
450.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.09A$46.75
$5.42MX$92.9
510.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.17A$1.65
$1.28MX$21.98
-8.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KA$40.1K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
49.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KA$31.4K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-5.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$147A$208
$41.02MX$704
258.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.52A$36.06
$26.92MX$462
-5.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.15A$65.2
$29.69MX$510
55.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.30A$68.2
$52.3MX$898
-7.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.80A$22.32
$26.23MX$450
-39.76%
Cinema Ticket
$10.92A$15.43
$6.18MX$106
76.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$642A$908
$427MX$7,331
50.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,876A$4,063
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-73.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.2A$99.3
$56.8MX$975
23.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.46A$62.8
$44.83MX$769
-0.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9A$133
$105MX$1,794
-10.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102A$145
$106MX$1,819
-3.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,263A$1,785
$995MX$17.1K
27.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,077A$1,522
$621MX$10.7K
73.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,032A$2,871
$2,126MX$36.5K
-4.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,667A$2,356
$1,254MX$21.5K
33.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,946A$9,814
$3,903MX$67.0K
77.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,967A$8,431
$2,096MX$36.0K
184.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grafton
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,478A$3,501
$1,107MX$19.0K
123.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.24
11.34
-44.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grafton: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,263 in Grafton and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grafton pays 124% 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: $71.0 in Grafton vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 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
Grafton vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Grafton and Mexico City?
Grafton and Mexico City differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($2,107 vs $1,447 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Grafton or Mexico City?
Grafton pays 124% 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 Grafton and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,263 in Grafton versus $995 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 2% higher in Grafton. 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 $53.0 versus $71.0 in Grafton. 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 $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,107 in Grafton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Grafton. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Grafton 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 Grafton or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Grafton 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: Grafton or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Grafton. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.