😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,334 in London versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,386 in London versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,439 in London versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in London is roughly 42% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: London70% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.03CA$30.48
$12.11MX$204
81.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.9CA$91.1
$52.2MX$881
26.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.47CA$17.26
$10.90MX$184
14.40%
Cappuccino
$3.66CA$5.06
$4.05MX$68.4
-9.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.03
$1.72MX$28.95
27.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.19CA$3.03
$1.38MX$23.25
58.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.37CA$8.81
$3.47MX$58.5
83.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.38CA$8.83
$5.81MX$98.1
9.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74CA$2.40
$1.85MX$31.28
-5.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.53CA$3.50
$3.22MX$54.4
-21.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.95CA$5.47
$2.09MX$35.20
89.00%
Eggs
$3.70CA$5.11
$2.91MX$49.10
27.15%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.84CA$16.38
$12.49MX$211
-5.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.10CA$18.13
$10.11MX$171
29.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.28CA$21.14
$15.89MX$268
-3.84%
Apples(1kg)
$4.34CA$6.01
$3.31MX$56.0
31.12%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30CA$1.80
$2.13MX$35.90
-38.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.72CA$5.15
$2.19MX$36.97
69.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.19CA$5.79
$2.45MX$41.31
71.02%
Potato(1kg)
$3.01CA$4.16
$2.19MX$36.95
37.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.87CA$3.96
$1.90MX$32.15
51.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.61CA$3.61
$1.62MX$27.26
61.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54CA$2.13
$1.35MX$22.78
14.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.19CA$16.86
$5.43MX$91.6
124.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.61CA$17.45
$17.59MX$297
-28.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.52CA$3.48
$2.07MX$34.90
21.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95CA$4.09
$4.75MX$80.1
-37.89%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.40CA$3.32
$0.34MX$5.74
605.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$79.7CA$110
$21.58MX$364
269.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.49CA$3.45
$2.04MX$34.44
22.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.68CA$2.33
$0.58MX$9.75
189.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.57CA$31.24
$5.97MX$101
278.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22CA$1.68
$1.62MX$27.27
-24.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.8KCA$39.8K
$22.8KMX$385.0K
26.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.3KCA$32.2K
$26.7KMX$450.0K
-12.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137CA$189
$65.2MX$1,101
109.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.44CA$58.7
$29.87MX$504
42.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2CA$77.8
$36.55MX$617
53.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.25CA$54.3
$61.0MX$1,030
-35.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.78CA$41.21
$26.70MX$451
11.54%
Cinema Ticket
$11.04CA$15.28
$6.85MX$116
61.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414CA$573
$453MX$7,652
-8.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$21.1KCA$29.2K
$13.4KMX$225.7K
57.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.6CA$75.5
$75.0MX$1,265
-27.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.49CA$54.7
$55.3MX$933
-28.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.8CA$116
$114MX$1,917
-26.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4CA$127
$123MX$2,070
-25.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,283CA$1,776
$1,134MX$19.1K
13.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,190CA$1,647
$712MX$12.0K
67.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,060CA$2,850
$2,571MX$43.4K
-19.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,710CA$2,366
$1,311MX$22.1K
30.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,530CA$4,884
$3,993MX$67.4K
-11.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,716CA$5,142
$2,095MX$35.4K
77.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,952CA$4,084
$1,047MX$17.7K
181.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.73
11.3
-58.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,283 in London and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰London pays 182% 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: $66.0 in London vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $345 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 42% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: London or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 182% 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: $1,283 in London versus $1,134 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 $2,334 per month in London versus $1,646 in Mexico City – a 42% 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 269% less than in London. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in London or in Mexico City?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,334 in London, a $3,000 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 42% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.