😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,330 in Kingston upon Thames versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,854 in Kingston upon Thames versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,379 in Kingston upon Thames versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Kingston upon Thames is roughly 127% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kingston upon Thames149% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.67£16.85
$13.18MX$228
72.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$86.6£64.4
$53.9MX$932
60.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.26£7.63
$9.42MX$163
8.92%
Cappuccino
$5.29£3.93
$3.55MX$61.4
49.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87£2.13
$1.62MX$27.98
77.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87£1.39
$1.11MX$19.27
68.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.67£6.44
$3.12MX$54.0
177.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.28£6.16
$4.63MX$80.1
78.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66£1.23
$1.70MX$29.43
-2.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.54£1.15
$2.72MX$47.02
-43.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.81£2.09
$1.91MX$33.07
47.12%
Eggs
$4.12£3.06
$2.54MX$43.86
62.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06£7.48
$10.03MX$174
0.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.82£6.56
$8.09MX$140
9.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.89£11.06
$11.62MX$201
28.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.41£2.53
$2.97MX$51.3
14.81%
Banana(1kg)
$2.04£1.51
$1.81MX$31.24
12.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.95£2.19
$2.01MX$34.82
46.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.61£2.68
$2.03MX$35.20
77.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51£1.12
$2.12MX$36.75
-28.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87£1.39
$2.27MX$39.25
-17.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05£0.78
$1.40MX$24.22
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94£1.44
$1.13MX$19.55
71.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.64£13.11
$4.27MX$73.9
313.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.34£8.43
$15.56MX$269
-27.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18£2.37
$1.76MX$30.39
80.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.93£2.92
$3.60MX$62.2
9.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.36£1.75
$0.38MX$6.62
521.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.38£32.25
$19.18MX$332
126.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.12£3.81
$1.38MX$23.79
271.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.18£1.62
$0.28MX$4.78
678.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$34.62£25.73
$5.45MX$94.2
535.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.45
$1.30MX$22.55
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.2K£28.4K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
104.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.0K£29.0K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
68.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$327£243
$40.86MX$707
699.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.81£11.75
$26.81MX$464
-41.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.55£30.88
$29.96MX$518
38.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.6£67.4
$52.0MX$900
74.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.37£6.96
$26.84MX$464
-65.09%
Cinema Ticket
$20.44£15.19
$6.30MX$109
224.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,892£1,407
$436MX$7,544
333.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$17.6K£13.1K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
68.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6£64.4
$56.7MX$980
52.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.69£31.73
$44.38MX$768
-3.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7£64.5
$103MX$1,780
-15.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$140£104
$106MX$1,825
32.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,072£1,540
$1,022MX$17.7K
102.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,865£1,386
$631MX$10.9K
195.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,725£2,769
$2,136MX$36.9K
74.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,252£2,417
$1,243MX$21.5K
161.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.6K£12.3K
$3,903MX$67.5K
325.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,376£3,252
$2,064MX$35.7K
111.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kingston upon Thames
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,768£3,544
$1,115MX$19.3K
327.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
11.34
-47.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kingston upon Thames: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,072 in Kingston upon Thames and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kingston upon Thames pays 328% 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: $87.0 in Kingston upon Thames vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 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
Kingston upon Thames vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kingston upon Thames and Mexico City?
Kingston upon Thames and Mexico City differ by about 127% in total monthly costs ($3,330 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Kingston upon Thames or Mexico City?
Kingston upon Thames pays 328% 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 Kingston upon Thames and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $2,072 in Kingston upon Thames versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kingston upon Thames and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 126% less than in Kingston upon Thames. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kingston upon Thames and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $1,892 in Kingston upon Thames versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $3,330 in Kingston upon Thames, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kingston upon Thames. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kingston upon Thames 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 Kingston upon Thames or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kingston upon Thames 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: Kingston upon Thames or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Kingston upon Thames. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Kingston upon Thames vs other spots: cost of living compared