😐A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $1,388 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $2,099 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $2,809 in Argostoli, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 4% more than Argostoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Mexico City and Argostoli sit above the global median – Mexico City by 8%, Argostoli by 3%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$11.61€10.00
11.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$55.1€47.44
-4.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$8.77€7.55
7.53%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$3.75€3.23
-4.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.58€1.36
1.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.59€0.51
94.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$4.60€3.96
-31.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$4.53€3.90
7.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.68€1.45
1.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.33€1.14
98.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$2.23€1.92
-14.80%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$4.17€3.59
-39.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$11.06€9.53
-8.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$8.76€7.55
-5.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$14.14€12.19
-18.18%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$2.21€1.90
37.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$2.60€2.24
-34.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.69€1.46
21.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$2.58€2.23
-20.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.23€1.06
67.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.30€1.12
66.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.95€0.82
47.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$1.22€1.05
-8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$6.01€5.18
-28.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$6.52€5.62
136.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$2.35€2.03
-28.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$3.65€3.15
1.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$1.54€1.32
-75.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$47.02€40.51
-59.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$4.14€3.57
-66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$1.06€0.92
-73.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$11.72€10.10
-53.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$2.14€1.85
-40.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$32.4K€27.9K
-41.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$24.6K€21.2K
-4.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$220€189
-81.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$21.88€18.85
23.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$32.43€27.94
-8.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$48.37€41.67
8.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$26.56€22.88
-1.24%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$9.04€7.79
-31.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$525€452
-18.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$6,420€5,531
66.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$63.9€55.0
-11.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$32.06€27.63
39.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$68.5€59.0
52.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$106€91.1
0.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$498€429
99.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$392€338
58.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$766€660
177.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$608€524
106.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$3,015€2,597
29.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$2,456€2,116
-14.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Argostoli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.42
156.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Argostoli: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $498 in Argostoli. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $55.0 in Argostoli. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $278 in Argostoli – so Argostoli 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 Argostoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Argostoli cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 4%, 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 $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $2,083 in Argostoli. 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 Argostoli, 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 Argostoli?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Mexico City, 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 Argostoli?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $55.0 in Argostoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Argostoli?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Argostoli, where all-in costs run around $1,388, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Argostoli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Argostoli more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Argostoli – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Argostoli?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Argostoli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared