Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Athens, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Athens, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,629 in Athens, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,008 in Athens, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,388 in Athens, OH.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 11% less than in Athens, OH, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Athens, OH 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$14.88 $14.88
-12.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$58.9 $58.9
-8.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$8.16 $8.16
18.63%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$4.41 $4.41
-15.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.16 $2.16
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$1.41 $1.41
-17.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$5.06 $5.06
-36.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$7.09 $7.09
-33.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$0.73 $0.73
126.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$2.06 $2.06
33.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$3.01 $3.01
-37.87%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$3.25 $3.25
-23.08%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$10.18 $10.18
0.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$8.85 $8.85
-6.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$15.70 $15.70
-24.71%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$3.70 $3.70
-18.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$0.97 $0.97
86.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$2.70 $2.70
-25.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$2.97 $2.97
-32.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$1.63 $1.63
27.61%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$2.12 $2.12
7.08%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$1.71 $1.71
-14.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$1.40 $1.40
-22.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$8.83 $8.83
-50.74%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$14.92 $14.92
13.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$2.00 $2.00
-13.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$1.83 $1.83
95.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$0.98 $0.98
-60.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$3.64 $3.64
-63.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$1.19 $1.19
-76.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$24.90 $24.90
-78.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$0.80 $0.80
67.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$34.4K $34.4K
-43.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$25.4K $25.4K
-6.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$122 $122
-66.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$29.49 $29.49
-8.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$47.69 $47.69
-36.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$43.24 $43.24
22.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$9.77 $9.77
-33.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$1,592 $1,592
-73.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$17.6K $17.6K
-40.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$41.89 $41.89
36.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$40.73 $40.73
11.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$65.3 $65.3
59.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$102 $102
5.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$1,726 $1,726
-41.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$653 $653
-4.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$2,624 $2,624
-19.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$2,251 $2,251
-45.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$1,678 $1,678
131.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$1,657 $1,657
22.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Athens, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$3,384 $3,384
-69.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.54
73.39%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Athens, OH: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $1,726 in Athens, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens, OH pays 226% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $59.0 in Athens, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $301 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.

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 Athens, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Athens, OH cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Athens, OH?
On paper, salaries run 226% lower in Athens, OH. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Athens, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $1,726 in Athens, OH. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Athens, OH?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Athens, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Athens, OH?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $1,629 in Athens, OH – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Athens, OH?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,629 in Athens, OH, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Athens, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Athens, OH more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Athens, OH, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Athens, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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