🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Athienou.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $2,664 in Athienou.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $3,598 in Athienou.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 4% less than in Athienou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Athienou26% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$13.92€12.14
-14.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$58.8€51.3
-12.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$7.12€6.21
60.25%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$3.62€3.16
10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$1.70€1.48
-2.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$1.04€0.91
27.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$3.37€2.94
2.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$4.02€3.50
46.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.71€1.49
9.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.51€1.31
115.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$2.38€2.08
-9.24%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$4.13€3.60
-29.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$13.37€11.65
-3.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$9.13€7.96
10.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$12.08€10.53
31.29%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.69€2.35
22.30%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.92€1.67
4.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.67€1.46
31.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$2.73€2.38
-13.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$1.47€1.28
39.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.17€1.02
62.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.62€0.54
159.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$1.07€0.93
30.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$5.94€5.18
-8.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$7.09€6.18
148.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.73€1.51
19.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$2.05€1.79
128.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$2.60€2.26
-86.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$56.7€49.43
-63.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$7.45€6.50
-71.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$2.13€1.86
-73.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$23.25€20.27
-75.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.63€1.42
-1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$34.5K€30.1K
-33.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$32.9K€28.6K
-18.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$173€151
-62.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$19.03€16.59
58.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$31.56€27.51
17.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$68.0€59.3
-12.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$29.57€25.77
-10.21%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$10.79€9.41
-34.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$397€346
17.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$7,059€6,153
88.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$69.2€60.3
9.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$33.85€29.50
65.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$71.6€62.4
56.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$92.0€80.2
31.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$909€792
21.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$735€641
-1.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,947€1,698
29.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,249€1,089
3.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$3,890€3,391
2.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$2,286€1,993
-8.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Athienou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$2,101€1,832
-50.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.31
241.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Athienou: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $909 in Athienou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Athienou pays 103% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $59.0 in Athienou. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $274, with Athienou cheaper for home cooking.
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 Athienou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Athienou?
Mexico City and Athienou differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,730 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 103% lower in Athienou. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Athienou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $909 in Athienou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Athienou?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Athienou – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Athienou?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 172% less than in Athienou. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Athienou, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Athienou. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Athienou?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Athienou?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Athienou. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared