🙂A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $2,216 in Alliston, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Mexico City vs $3,433 in Alliston, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Mexico City vs $4,651 in Alliston, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 33% cheaper than Alliston, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Mexico City and Alliston sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Alliston by 65%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$18.83CA$25.80
-29.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$82.6CA$113
-34.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$11.14CA$15.26
-16.61%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.56CA$2.13
131.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$2.22CA$3.04
-29.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$1.69CA$2.32
-33.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
$5.76CA$7.89
-45.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
$6.78CA$9.28
-30.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$2.69CA$3.68
-36.80%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$2.72CA$3.73
1.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$3.65CA$5.00
-46.30%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$3.26CA$4.46
-20.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$13.31CA$18.24
-25.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$13.24CA$18.14
-38.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$7.25CA$9.93
58.62%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$3.93CA$5.38
-26.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$1.17CA$1.61
47.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$3.27CA$4.48
-38.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$4.07CA$5.58
-49.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$2.50CA$3.43
-16.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$2.82CA$3.86
-21.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$2.35CA$3.22
-38.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.69CA$0.95
55.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$14.91CA$20.42
-71.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
$7.37CA$10.10
94.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
$2.69CA$3.69
-34.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
$3.27CA$4.49
13.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$2.43CA$3.33
-85.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$63.6CA$87.1
-69.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$3.67CA$5.02
-63.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$1.76CA$2.41
-84.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$25.99CA$35.60
-79.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.00CA$1.37
34.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$25.2KCA$34.5K
-24.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$21.6KCA$29.6K
10.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$119CA$163
-66.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$29.03CA$39.76
-7.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$53.5CA$73.3
-45.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$27.03CA$37.03
97.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$11.85CA$16.23
-45.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$1,137CA$1,557
-61.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$18.3KCA$25.0K
-41.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$58.0CA$79.5
-0.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$39.22CA$53.7
14.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$88.5CA$121
17.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$116CA$159
-7.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$1,293CA$1,771
-21.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$1,176CA$1,611
-46.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$2,038CA$2,792
6.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$2,238CA$3,066
-45.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
$4,776CA$6,543
-20.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
$4,115CA$5,638
-43.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Alliston
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$1,873CA$2,566
-42.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.16
119.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Last update for Alliston: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,013 in Mexico City versus $1,293 in Alliston. 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 74% higher in Alliston, 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 $54 in Mexico City versus $83 in Alliston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $335 – 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
Mexico City vs Alliston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alliston cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Alliston is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,226 per month in Mexico City and $3,324 in Alliston. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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 do food prices compare in Mexico City and Alliston?
Groceries cost about 18% more in Alliston, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or Alliston?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $83.0 in Alliston. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Alliston?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,484, than in Alliston at $2,216. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Alliston it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Alliston more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Alliston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared