🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,632 in Heraklion versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,620 in Heraklion versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,608 in Heraklion versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Heraklion costs roughly 3% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Heraklion18% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.12€13.04
$12.14MX$206
24.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.6€50.6
$53.9MX$916
8.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.44€9.00
$11.09MX$188
-5.86%
Cappuccino
$4.06€3.50
$4.10MX$69.6
-0.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57€2.21
$1.68MX$28.57
52.98%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81€0.70
$1.39MX$23.58
-41.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.66€4.88
$3.33MX$56.6
69.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.38€4.64
$5.88MX$99.9
-8.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87€1.61
$1.85MX$31.45
1.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50€1.29
$3.17MX$53.9
-52.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.70€2.33
$2.07MX$35.18
30.43%
Eggs
$4.69€4.05
$2.93MX$49.74
60.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$16.43€14.17
$12.59MX$214
30.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.95€9.45
$10.11MX$172
8.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.53€13.40
$16.09MX$273
-3.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32€2.00
$3.39MX$57.6
-31.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$2.08MX$35.31
1.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46€1.26
$2.12MX$36.02
-31.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04€1.76
$2.41MX$41.01
-15.35%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24€1.07
$2.13MX$36.17
-41.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.29€1.12
$2.01MX$34.07
-35.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97€0.84
$1.55MX$26.25
-37.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73€0.63
$1.36MX$23.19
-46.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.28€4.56
$5.77MX$98.0
-8.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.72€6.66
$17.74MX$301
-56.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07€1.79
$2.07MX$35.16
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01€2.60
$4.61MX$78.4
-34.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.49€1.28
$0.37MX$6.21
302.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$70.9€61.2
$21.18MX$360
234.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.97
$2.05MX$34.89
124.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.15€0.99
$0.58MX$9.80
98.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.44€9.87
$6.07MX$103
88.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.28€1.97
$1.55MX$26.38
47.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.5K€25.5K
$22.9KMX$388.6K
29.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K€22.6K
$27.2KMX$462.7K
-3.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$202€174
$67.4MX$1,145
200.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.14€26.86
$30.62MX$520
1.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.42€34.85
$37.24MX$633
8.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$51.9€44.75
$61.5MX$1,044
-15.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.48€34.91
$27.12MX$461
49.26%
Cinema Ticket
$9.27€7.99
$7.11MX$121
30.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$423€364
$456MX$7,750
-7.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,250€3,665
$13.7KMX$232.6K
-68.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.3€72.7
$74.2MX$1,260
13.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67€38.52
$57.0MX$969
-21.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.5€73.7
$115MX$1,961
-25.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$141€122
$122MX$2,064
16.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$648€559
$1,148MX$19.5K
-43.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$507€437
$709MX$12.1K
-28.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,182€1,019
$2,577MX$43.8K
-54.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,009€870
$1,295MX$22.0K
-22.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,003€3,452
$4,005MX$68.0K
-0.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,928€2,524
$2,130MX$36.2K
37.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Heraklion
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,171€1,010
$1,082MX$18.4K
8.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.44
11.3
-60.71%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Heraklion: September 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $648 in Heraklion and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Heraklion vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $305 vs $345, with Heraklion 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
Heraklion vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Heraklion?
Heraklion is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 3% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Heraklion or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Heraklion, 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 Heraklion and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $648 in Heraklion versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $423 in Heraklion versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Heraklion and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Heraklion or in Mexico City?
At $1,632 in Heraklion versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Heraklion but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Heraklion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Heraklion or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Heraklion is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Heraklion or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Heraklion 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 Heraklion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.