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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $2,329 in Aberdeen, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $3,684 in Aberdeen, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $5,038 in Aberdeen, rent included.

Mexico City is about 29% cheaper than Aberdeen, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mexico City and Aberdeen sit above the global median – Mexico City by 21%, Aberdeen by 70%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$205
$20.55 £15.35
-42.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$889
$99.7 £74.5
-48.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$10.96 £8.18
4.11%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.8
$4.93 £3.68
-19.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.57
$2.65 £1.98
-37.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.84
$2.00 £1.49
-33.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.8
$7.06 £5.27
-50.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$7.20 £5.38
-18.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.31
$1.53 £1.14
22.88%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.0
$1.83 £1.36
77.60%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.21
$1.98 £1.48
9.09%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.87
$4.59 £3.43
-36.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$221
$8.90 £6.65
44.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$11.96 £8.93
-15.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$16.53 £12.34
-4.05%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.7
$2.91 £2.17
13.06%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.55
$1.40 £1.05
43.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.88
$2.90 £2.17
-24.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.57
$3.91 £2.92
-39.64%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.38
$1.78 £1.33
15.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.75
$1.49 £1.11
27.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.64
$1.26 £0.94
27.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.05
$1.65 £1.23
-15.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.1
$22.30 £16.65
-75.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$11.27 £8.42
56.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.39
$2.74 £2.05
-24.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.7
$3.01 £2.25
55.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.83
$2.87 £2.15
-88.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$358
$123 £92.2
-83.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.11
$4.10 £3.06
-48.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.63
$2.45 £1.83
-77.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
$24.37 £18.20
-76.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.65
$2.04 £1.52
-21.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.3K
$38.6K £28.8K
-40.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$460.6K
$42.0K £31.4K
-36.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,122
$420 £314
-84.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$518
$27.99 £20.90
7.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$640
$42.65 £31.85
-12.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,029
$54.4 £40.60
9.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$457
$22.84 £17.05
16.24%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$11.46 £8.56
-38.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,001
$1,809 £1,351
-74.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.6K
$23.1K £17.3K
-42.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,307
$98.7 £73.7
-23.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$963
$48.46 £36.19
15.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,926
$107 £80.1
4.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,075
$114 £85.0
5.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$838 £626
31.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$799 £597
-9.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$1,541 £1,151
64.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$1,714 £1,280
-24.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.7K
$2,310 £1,725
72.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$3,533 £2,638
-40.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Aberdeen
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
$3,705 £2,766
-72.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.11
121.14%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Aberdeen: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $838 in Aberdeen. 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 257% higher in Aberdeen, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $100 in Aberdeen. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $325 in Aberdeen – so Aberdeen wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Mexico City vs Aberdeen: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Aberdeen?
Aberdeen costs about 40% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Aberdeen?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $3,494 in Aberdeen. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Aberdeen?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Aberdeen?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $2,329 in Aberdeen. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Aberdeen?
Public transport costs about 493% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mexico City or in Aberdeen?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,660, than in Aberdeen at $2,329. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Aberdeen it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Aberdeen?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,660 versus $2,329 in Aberdeen. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Aberdeen?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Aberdeen?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Aberdeen makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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