Cost of Living Comparison Between Kos and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Kos and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,487 in Kos versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,293 in Kos versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,099 in Kos versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Kos is roughly 2% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kos 11% above, Mexico City 9% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.04 €14.93
$13.07 MX$228
30.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.2 €65.0
$53.8 MX$936
38.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.94 €10.46
$9.68 MX$169
23.35%
Cappuccino
$4.74 €4.15
$3.74 MX$65.1
26.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 €2.81
$1.62 MX$28.13
98.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 €0.97
$1.16 MX$20.23
-4.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.58 €4.01
$3.23 MX$56.2
41.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.93 €6.07
$4.74 MX$82.5
46.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.37 €2.08
$1.65 MX$28.68
43.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.70 €1.49
$2.75 MX$47.95
-38.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 €2.16
$1.87 MX$32.63
32.09%
Eggs
$4.03 €3.53
$2.50 MX$43.54
61.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.51 €11.83
$10.20 MX$178
32.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.66 €8.46
$8.25 MX$144
17.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.68 €11.99
$11.82 MX$206
15.74%
Apples (1kg)
$2.14 €1.87
$3.01 MX$52.4
-28.90%
Banana (1kg)
$2.11 €1.85
$1.81 MX$31.54
16.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.43 €1.25
$2.00 MX$34.81
-28.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 €1.73
$2.00 MX$34.74
-1.50%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 €1.12
$2.08 MX$36.30
-38.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.24 €1.09
$2.27 MX$39.56
-45.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 €0.89
$1.46 MX$25.36
-30.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 €0.66
$1.08 MX$18.74
-30.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.36 €4.70
$4.35 MX$75.7
23.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.79 €5.95
$16.99 MX$296
-60.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.73 MX$30.18
17.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72 €2.38
$3.58 MX$62.3
-24.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.60 €1.40
$0.39 MX$6.74
310.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.73 €40.05
$18.69 MX$325
144.68%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.62 €4.04
$1.33 MX$23.08
247.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.28 MX$4.87
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.79 €12.08
$5.25 MX$91.5
162.67%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.17 €1.90
$1.34 MX$23.27
61.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.0K €27.2K
$19.4K MX$338.0K
59.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K €23.7K
$23.8K MX$415.0K
13.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$213 €186
$40.69 MX$709
422.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.37 €20.46
$26.87 MX$468
-13.03%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.79 €31.35
$30.51 MX$531
17.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$48.34 €42.33
$52.8 MX$919
-8.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.52 €23.22
$26.65 MX$464
-0.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.33 €8.17
$6.51 MX$113
43.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$420 €368
$428 MX$7,454
-1.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,936 €5,199
$10.5K MX$182.8K
-43.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.6 €76.8
$57.3 MX$997
53.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.88 €34.06
$45.50 MX$792
-14.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$89.8 €78.6
$104 MX$1,812
-13.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 €95.3
$108 MX$1,878
0.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$490 €429
$1,003 MX$17.5K
-51.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 €329
$623 MX$10.8K
-39.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$744 €652
$2,109 MX$36.7K
-64.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$604 €529
$1,218 MX$21.2K
-50.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,447 €2,143
$3,885 MX$67.6K
-37.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,497 €2,187
$2,033 MX$35.4K
22.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$925 €810
$1,038 MX$18.1K
-10.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.43
11.34
-60.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kos: July 11, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Kos and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $74.0 in Kos vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $284 vs $292, with Kos 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
Kos vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kos or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Kos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kos or in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kos compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Kos versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Kos and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $74.0 in Kos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Kos compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,487 per month in Kos versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kos or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,487 in Kos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kos. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Kos or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Kos compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Kos 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Kos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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