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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $1,307 in Atenas, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,342 per month in Mexico City vs $2,274 in Atenas, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,199 per month in Mexico City vs $3,240 in Atenas, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 14% more than Atenas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Atenas is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.29 MX$231

$8.97 ₡4,100

48.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$933

$52.4 ₡23.9K

2.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 MX$161

$10.01 ₡4,571

-7.19%

Cappuccino

$3.61 MX$62.6

$3.75 ₡1,714

-3.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 MX$27.03

$1.98 ₡904

-21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.46

$1.57 ₡718

-28.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 MX$54.3

$3.06 ₡1,398

2.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.71 MX$81.7

$4.62 ₡2,111

1.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.54

$2.06 ₡939

-17.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.77 MX$48.03

$2.86 ₡1,307

-3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 MX$34.05

$1.94 ₡888

1.03%

Eggs

$2.60 MX$45.21

$3.01 ₡1,374

-13.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.94 MX$173

$9.73 ₡4,445

2.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.10 MX$141

$8.74 ₡3,994

-7.32%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.50 MX$200

$9.21 ₡4,205

24.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 MX$49.84

$3.88 ₡1,774

-26.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 MX$30.07

$1.45 ₡661

19.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.73

$2.45 ₡1,121

-18.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$2.15 ₡982

-5.12%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.14

$3.34 ₡1,525

-37.72%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 MX$38.12

$2.42 ₡1,106

-9.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 MX$25.24

$1.01 ₡463

43.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 MX$18.63

$2.83 ₡1,293

-62.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$74.2

$5.33 ₡2,434

-19.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.32 MX$249

$18.06 ₡8,250

-20.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.62

$2.47 ₡1,129

-28.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.70 MX$64.2

$2.38 ₡1,085

55.46%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.12

$2.03 ₡928

-82.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.19 MX$333

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.34 MX$23.18

$1.79 ₡817

-25.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.83

$1.78 ₡814

-84.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 MX$92.6

$8.02 ₡3,665

-33.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$1.39 ₡635

-3.60%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K MX$332.0K

$38.2K ₡17.5M

-49.94%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.9K MX$414.5K

$32.5K ₡14.9M

-26.60%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.86 MX$692

$92.7 ₡42.3K

-56.99%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.78 MX$465

$26.18 ₡12.0K

2.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.36 MX$510

$47.67 ₡21.8K

-38.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$927

$40.90 ₡18.7K

30.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.09 MX$453

$9.86 ₡4,506

164.60%

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MX$111

$8.30 ₡3,792

-22.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$440 MX$7,647

$562 ₡256.6K

-21.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K MX$186.6K

$6,050 ₡2.8M

77.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.6 MX$1,000

$62.0 ₡28.3K

-7.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.02 MX$781

$48.74 ₡22.3K

-7.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,801

$119 ₡54.2K

-12.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,874

$108 ₡49.5K

-0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,013 MX$17.6K

$548 ₡250.3K

84.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MX$10.9K

$393 ₡179.6K

60.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,162 MX$37.5K

$1,363 ₡622.8K

58.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,222 MX$21.2K

$1,165 ₡532.2K

4.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,793 MX$65.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,075 MX$18.7K

$1,288 ₡588.6K

-16.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

10.17

11.50%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026

Last update for Atenas: April 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,013 in Mexico City versus $548 in Atenas. 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 20% higher in Atenas, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54 in Mexico City versus $52 in Atenas. Groceries tell a different story – $285 in Mexico City vs $324 in Atenas – so Mexico City 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 Atenas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,226 per month in Mexico City and $1,960 in Atenas. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Atenas, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $52.0 in Atenas. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Atenas, where all-in costs run around $1,307, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Atenas it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Atenas – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Atenas. 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.