😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,380 in London versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,496 in London versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,612 in London versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
😐Living in London is roughly 62% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: London78% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.17CA$24.89
$13.30MX$231
36.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$72.9CA$99.8
$53.8MX$932
35.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.34CA$14.17
$9.42MX$163
9.77%
Cappuccino
$3.46CA$4.74
$3.59MX$62.3
-3.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95CA$2.67
$1.62MX$28.13
20.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90CA$2.61
$1.12MX$19.49
69.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.94CA$8.14
$3.25MX$56.3
82.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.78CA$9.28
$4.65MX$80.6
45.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.61CA$2.21
$1.64MX$28.37
-1.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40CA$3.29
$2.65MX$46.00
-9.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.27CA$4.48
$1.96MX$33.99
66.84%
Eggs
$3.28CA$4.49
$2.54MX$44.08
29.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.49CA$13.01
$9.97MX$173
-4.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.44CA$17.04
$8.39MX$145
48.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.26CA$12.69
$11.83MX$205
-21.72%
Apples(1kg)
$4.57CA$6.26
$2.86MX$49.62
59.79%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36CA$1.87
$1.73MX$30.05
-21.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.63CA$4.97
$1.99MX$34.50
82.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.78CA$5.18
$2.05MX$35.51
84.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.62CA$2.22
$2.06MX$35.64
-21.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12CA$2.90
$2.28MX$39.54
-7.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.16CA$2.96
$1.45MX$25.05
48.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.46CA$2.00
$1.09MX$18.83
33.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$12.50CA$17.12
$4.27MX$73.9
192.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.97CA$17.76
$14.67MX$254
-11.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12CA$2.91
$1.76MX$30.58
20.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60CA$3.56
$3.57MX$61.8
-27.17%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.42CA$3.31
$0.38MX$6.67
536.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.4CA$114
$18.73MX$325
345.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.08CA$5.59
$1.39MX$24.09
193.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.77CA$2.43
$0.30MX$5.26
490.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$31.30CA$42.88
$5.41MX$93.8
478.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.14CA$1.56
$1.34MX$23.22
-14.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$33.8K
$18.9KMX$326.7K
30.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KCA$27.9K
$23.2KMX$402.0K
-12.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$142CA$194
$40.30MX$698
251.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$47.48CA$65.1
$27.15MX$471
74.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$58.0CA$79.5
$29.46MX$510
97.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.33CA$58.0
$52.7MX$914
-19.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20CA$9.87
$26.17MX$454
-72.49%
Cinema Ticket
$10.87CA$14.90
$6.18MX$107
75.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$552CA$756
$441MX$7,637
25.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.2KCA$19.5K
$10.7KMX$185.4K
32.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.3CA$74.4
$57.2MX$992
-5.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.53CA$62.4
$45.04MX$781
1.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.8CA$119
$103MX$1,793
-16.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4CA$110
$109MX$1,884
-26.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,455CA$1,993
$1,000MX$17.3K
45.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,285CA$1,761
$632MX$11.0K
103.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,576CA$3,530
$2,141MX$37.1K
20.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,980CA$2,713
$1,253MX$21.7K
58.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,482CA$4,771
$3,745MX$64.9K
-7.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,725CA$5,103
$2,381MX$41.3K
56.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,125CA$4,281
$1,079MX$18.7K
189.55%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,455 in London and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰London pays 190% 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: $73 in London vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $326 vs $286 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 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: London or Mexico City?
London pays 190% more on average, 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: $1,455 in London versus $1,000 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 vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,380 per month in London versus $1,466 in Mexico City – a 62% 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 345% 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 London or Mexico City?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,380 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 62% less than in London. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.