🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Kos versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,407 in Kos versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,206 in Kos versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Kos costs roughly 4% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kos17% above, Mexico City22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.19€14.82
$12.14MX$206
41.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.6€65.2
$53.9MX$914
40.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.41€10.70
$11.09MX$188
11.90%
Cappuccino
$4.89€4.21
$4.10MX$69.5
19.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.91
$1.68MX$28.53
101.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13€0.97
$1.39MX$23.55
-18.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.53€3.91
$3.33MX$56.5
36.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04€6.07
$5.88MX$99.7
19.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42€2.08
$1.85MX$31.41
30.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64€1.42
$3.17MX$53.8
-48.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.65€2.28
$2.07MX$35.13
28.02%
Eggs
$4.81€4.15
$2.93MX$49.67
64.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.26€12.29
$12.59MX$214
13.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12€8.73
$10.11MX$172
0.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.16€13.07
$16.09MX$273
-5.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37€2.05
$3.39MX$57.5
-30.09%
Banana(1kg)
$2.23€1.92
$2.08MX$35.26
7.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50€1.29
$2.12MX$35.97
-29.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99€1.72
$2.41MX$40.95
-17.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.18€1.02
$2.13MX$36.11
-44.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16€1.00
$2.01MX$34.02
-42.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.13€0.98
$1.55MX$26.21
-27.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.89€0.77
$1.36MX$23.15
-34.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.39€4.64
$5.77MX$97.8
-6.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.03€6.06
$17.74MX$301
-60.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.86
$2.07MX$35.11
4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81€2.42
$4.61MX$78.3
-39.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.41€1.21
$0.37MX$6.21
281.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.23€42.44
$21.18MX$359
132.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.09€3.53
$2.05MX$34.84
99.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08€0.93
$0.58MX$9.79
86.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.19€14.82
$6.07MX$103
183.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.86
$1.55MX$26.34
39.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K€25.1K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
27.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.8K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
-2.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213€183
$67.4MX$1,144
215.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.32€20.96
$30.62MX$520
-20.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.08€31.10
$37.24MX$632
-3.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.4€45.13
$61.5MX$1,043
-14.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.60€22.93
$27.12MX$460
-1.92%
Cinema Ticket
$9.41€8.11
$7.11MX$121
32.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$438€378
$456MX$7,739
-3.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,914€5,960
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-49.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.6€73.8
$74.2MX$1,259
15.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.21€34.66
$57.0MX$967
-29.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€79.5
$115MX$1,958
-20.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$131€113
$122MX$2,061
7.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$630€543
$1,148MX$19.5K
-45.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$448€386
$709MX$12.0K
-36.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765€660
$2,577MX$43.7K
-70.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618€533
$1,295MX$22.0K
-52.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871€2,475
$4,005MX$67.9K
-28.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,457€2,118
$2,130MX$36.1K
15.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kos
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$935€806
$1,082MX$18.4K
-13.59%
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 Kos: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $630 in Kos and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 16% 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: $76.0 in Kos vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $302 vs $345, 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?
Kos wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kos the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kos or in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 16% 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: $630 in Kos versus $1,148 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 Kos – a meal for two runs $76.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. 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 $1,608 per month in Kos versus $1,677 in Mexico City – a 4% 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 $1,608 in Kos versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kos but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kos 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 Kos delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,608 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kos 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 Kos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.