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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,436 in London versus $1,481 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,478 in London versus $2,352 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,519 in London versus $3,222 in Mexico City.

Living in London is roughly 64% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: London 82% above, Mexico City 11% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.55 CA$26.13
$13.16 MX$229
40.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.8 CA$105
$53.6 MX$932
39.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.49 CA$14.78
$9.55 MX$166
9.84%
Cappuccino
$3.55 CA$5.00
$3.72 MX$64.8
-4.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.77
$1.57 MX$27.28
25.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.78
$1.16 MX$20.12
69.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.72 CA$8.06
$3.18 MX$55.4
79.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.71 CA$9.46
$4.63 MX$80.6
44.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 CA$2.37
$1.71 MX$29.67
-1.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.42 CA$3.40
$2.62 MX$45.54
-7.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.40 CA$4.79
$1.89 MX$32.87
79.89%
Eggs
$3.27 CA$4.61
$2.60 MX$45.17
25.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.94 CA$14.00
$9.91 MX$172
0.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.48 CA$17.58
$8.22 MX$143
51.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.91 CA$12.55
$11.78 MX$205
-24.36%
Apples (1kg)
$4.50 CA$6.35
$3.00 MX$52.1
50.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 CA$1.94
$1.80 MX$31.32
-23.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.61 CA$5.08
$2.07 MX$36.08
74.40%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.75 CA$5.28
$1.97 MX$34.23
90.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.64 CA$2.31
$2.07 MX$36.05
-20.77%
Onion (1kg)
$2.07 CA$2.91
$2.17 MX$37.84
-4.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.16 CA$3.05
$1.40 MX$24.41
54.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 CA$2.05
$1.07 MX$18.70
35.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.75 CA$17.96
$4.12 MX$71.7
209.47%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.36 CA$17.41
$17.42 MX$303
-29.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 CA$2.92
$1.68 MX$29.16
23.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 CA$3.53
$3.65 MX$63.5
-31.23%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.27
$0.38 MX$6.62
510.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.3 CA$115
$18.71 MX$326
334.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.08 CA$5.74
$1.33 MX$23.13
206.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.77 CA$2.50
$0.30 MX$5.27
490.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$31.44 CA$44.29
$5.51 MX$95.9
470.60%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.15 CA$1.62
$1.31 MX$22.72
-12.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K CA$35.9K
$19.2K MX$333.5K
33.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3K CA$28.6K
$23.7K MX$413.3K
-14.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 CA$204
$41.14 MX$716
252.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.19 CA$67.9
$27.74 MX$483
73.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.7 CA$82.7
$30.13 MX$524
94.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.60 CA$58.6
$53.7 MX$935
-22.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.25 CA$10.21
$25.98 MX$452
-72.09%
Cinema Ticket
$10.92 CA$15.38
$6.49 MX$113
68.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$560 CA$788
$437 MX$7,598
28.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.3K CA$20.2K
$10.5K MX$182.0K
37.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.4 CA$78.1
$58.3 MX$1,015
-4.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.98 CA$64.8
$45.86 MX$798
0.26%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 CA$119
$101 MX$1,765
-17.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 CA$116
$107 MX$1,854
-22.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,462 CA$2,059
$1,005 MX$17.5K
45.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,300 CA$1,831
$634 MX$11.0K
105.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,608 CA$3,673
$2,148 MX$37.4K
21.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,976 CA$2,783
$1,247 MX$21.7K
58.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,456 CA$4,868
$3,859 MX$67.2K
-10.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,585 CA$5,050
$2,085 MX$36.3K
72.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,946 CA$4,149
$1,072 MX$18.7K
174.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
11.34
-45.24%

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

Last update for London: July 21, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,462 in London and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

London pays 175% 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: $75.0 in London vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $291 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
London vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than London?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: London or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 175% higher in London, 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 London and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,462 in London versus $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in London and in Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,436 per month in London versus $1,481 in Mexico City – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 335% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in London or in Mexico City?
At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,436 in London, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in London. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is London or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in London, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, London or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, London 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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