😐A single person spends $4,208 per month in London vs $1,682 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $6,047 per month in London vs $2,599 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $7,885 per month in London vs $3,516 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐London costs about 150% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both London and Mexico City sit above the global median – London by 207%, Mexico City by 23%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
London
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$27.32£20.03
$11.83MX$200
130.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$109£80.2
$52.2MX$884
109.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.62£7.78
$10.87MX$184
-2.30%
Cappuccino
$5.84£4.28
$4.03MX$68.2
44.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06£2.24
$1.71MX$28.99
78.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12£1.55
$1.34MX$22.70
58.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.18£6.73
$3.39MX$57.5
170.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.93£6.54
$5.74MX$97.3
55.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
London
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96£1.44
$1.89MX$31.99
3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$2.04£1.50
$3.17MX$53.8
-35.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.46£1.81
$2.05MX$34.74
20.00%
Eggs
$5.28£3.87
$3.01MX$51.1
75.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68£10.03
$12.61MX$214
8.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.28£7.53
$9.94MX$169
3.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.61£12.91
$16.00MX$271
10.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.25£2.38
$3.28MX$55.6
-0.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.47£1.07
$2.06MX$34.87
-28.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84£2.08
$2.09MX$35.36
35.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.48£2.55
$2.50MX$42.44
39.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59£1.17
$2.05MX$34.76
-22.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71£1.25
$1.87MX$31.70
-8.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55£1.13
$1.57MX$26.66
-1.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88£1.38
$1.39MX$23.64
35.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.57£17.27
$5.38MX$91.2
338.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.76£10.09
$17.95MX$304
-23.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.16£2.32
$2.02MX$34.31
56.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45£3.26
$4.76MX$80.7
-6.51%
🚌 Getting Around
London
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.11£3.01
$0.36MX$6.13
1041.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$270£198
$20.80MX$353
1195.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.75£4.22
$2.06MX$34.92
179.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.37£2.47
$0.56MX$9.55
501.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$56.7£41.54
$5.82MX$98.6
873.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.12£1.55
$1.54MX$26.05
37.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.5K£28.9K
$22.5KMX$380.6K
75.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£30.8K
$26.5KMX$448.7K
58.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
London
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$374£274
$66.0MX$1,118
466.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.95£13.89
$30.98MX$525
-38.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.35£30.31
$36.20MX$613
14.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
London
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$62.3£45.64
$57.5MX$975
8.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.54£16.52
$26.75MX$453
-15.74%
Cinema Ticket
$17.94£13.15
$7.13MX$121
151.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
London
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,843£2,084
$457MX$7,738
522.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.4K£25.9K
$13.2KMX$224.5K
166.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
London
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$113£82.5
$75.8MX$1,285
48.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8£40.18
$54.1MX$917
1.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124£91.2
$116MX$1,974
6.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$139£102
$122MX$2,063
14.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
London
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,012£2,208
$1,147MX$19.4K
162.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,327£1,706
$726MX$12.3K
220.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$5,600£4,105
$2,503MX$42.4K
123.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$4,022£2,948
$1,331MX$22.6K
202.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$19.2K£14.1K
$3,895MX$66.0K
394.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,235£6,036
$2,149MX$36.4K
283.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
London
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,470£3,277
$1,069MX$18.1K
318.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.68
11.35
-58.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for London: August 17, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $3,012 in London versus $1,147 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 318% higher in London, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in London versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $359 vs $344 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
How do living costs in London and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $4,208 in London, $1,682 in Mexico City – roughly 150% apart. London costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in London compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $6,312 per month in London and $2,523 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between London and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 4% more in London, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $109 in London and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,682, than in London at $4,208. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in London it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between London and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. London has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,682 in Mexico City to $4,208 in London. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between London and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, London makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.