😐A single person spends $2,286 per month in Kingston vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,230 per month in Kingston vs $2,342 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,173 per month in Kingston vs $3,199 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Kingston costs about 54% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kingston and Mexico City sit above the global median – Kingston by 70%, Mexico City by 10%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72CA$22.91
$13.29MX$231
25.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2CA$102
$53.8MX$933
38.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.28CA$15.46
$9.29MX$161
21.42%
Cappuccino
$3.69CA$5.06
$3.61MX$62.6
2.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90CA$2.60
$1.56MX$27.03
21.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44CA$1.97
$1.12MX$19.46
28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.04CA$8.28
$3.13MX$54.3
92.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.45CA$8.83
$4.71MX$81.7
36.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.58CA$3.53
$1.70MX$29.54
51.76%
White Bread(500g)
$2.54CA$3.47
$2.77MX$48.03
-8.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.17CA$5.71
$1.96MX$34.05
112.76%
Eggs
$2.91CA$3.99
$2.60MX$45.21
11.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.68CA$14.63
$9.94MX$173
7.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.42CA$15.64
$8.10MX$141
40.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.41CA$15.63
$11.50MX$200
-0.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56CA$4.87
$2.87MX$49.84
24.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32CA$1.80
$1.73MX$30.07
-23.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.01CA$5.50
$2.00MX$34.73
100.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.86CA$6.66
$2.04MX$35.38
138.24%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54CA$4.85
$2.08MX$36.14
70.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.41CA$3.30
$2.20MX$38.12
9.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.97CA$4.07
$1.45MX$25.24
104.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.62CA$2.22
$1.07MX$18.63
51.40%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.87CA$19.00
$4.27MX$74.2
224.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.45CA$17.06
$14.32MX$249
-13.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29CA$3.13
$1.76MX$30.62
30.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30CA$4.53
$3.70MX$64.2
-10.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.52CA$3.46
$0.35MX$6.12
620.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.0CA$79.5
$19.19MX$333
202.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.27CA$4.48
$1.34MX$23.18
144.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.57CA$2.16
$0.28MX$4.83
460.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.56CA$44.60
$5.33MX$92.6
510.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08CA$1.49
$1.34MX$23.27
-19.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KCA$33.7K
$19.1KMX$332.0K
28.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4KCA$29.3K
$23.9KMX$414.5K
-10.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$130CA$178
$39.86MX$692
225.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.36CA$60.8
$26.78MX$465
65.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$78.7CA$108
$29.36MX$510
168.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.36CA$44.33
$53.4MX$927
-39.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.29CA$12.73
$26.09MX$453
-64.39%
Cinema Ticket
$11.18CA$15.32
$6.40MX$111
74.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$446CA$611
$440MX$7,647
1.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KCA$16.0K
$10.8KMX$186.6K
8.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.10CA$63.2
$57.6MX$1,000
-19.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.95CA$49.25
$45.02MX$781
-20.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.1CA$130
$104MX$1,801
-8.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.3CA$126
$108MX$1,874
-14.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,289CA$1,766
$1,013MX$17.6K
27.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,189CA$1,630
$630MX$10.9K
88.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,130CA$2,918
$2,162MX$37.5K
-1.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,679CA$2,301
$1,222MX$21.2K
37.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,450CA$4,726
$3,793MX$65.8K
-9.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,513CA$3,443
$2,332MX$40.5K
7.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,086CA$4,228
$1,075MX$18.7K
187.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.69
11.34
-41.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston: April 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,289 in Kingston versus $1,013 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.
💰Salaries run about 187% higher in Kingston, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $74 in Kingston versus $54 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $285 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Kingston vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kingston and Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $2,286 in Kingston, $1,484 in Mexico City – roughly 54% apart. Kingston costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kingston compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,429 per month in Kingston and $2,226 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kingston and Mexico City?
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.
Which city is more expensive overall: Kingston or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,286 in Kingston and $1,484 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Kingston and Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 202% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Kingston at $2,286. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kingston and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,484 in Mexico City to $2,286 in Kingston. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kingston or Mexico City safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kingston and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.