🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,346 in Cheltenham.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $3,549 in Cheltenham.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $4,752 in Cheltenham.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 30% less than in Cheltenham, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City20% above, Cheltenham71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$205
$23.91£17.68
-49.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$883
$106£78.6
-50.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$184
$11.75£8.69
-7.23%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.5
$4.70£3.47
-13.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.00
$2.76£2.04
-37.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.29
$1.80£1.33
-23.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.6
$7.76£5.74
-55.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.2
$6.90£5.10
-15.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.33
$1.71£1.26
8.19%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.5
$1.68£1.24
91.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.25
$2.10£1.56
-0.48%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.18
$4.49£3.32
-35.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$211
$8.33£6.16
49.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$9.82£7.26
2.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$269
$13.42£9.92
18.41%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.0
$3.26£2.41
1.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.95
$1.51£1.11
41.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.03
$1.95£1.44
12.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.37
$3.43£2.53
-28.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.00
$1.63£1.21
34.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.20
$1.54£1.14
23.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.31
$1.29£0.95
25.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.82
$1.46£1.08
-7.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.7
$23.75£17.56
-77.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$297
$11.03£8.15
59.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$34.96
$2.86£2.12
-27.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.2
$2.97£2.20
59.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.75
$3.46£2.56
-90.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$365
$94.9£70.2
-77.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.49
$3.62£2.67
-43.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.77
$1.64£1.21
-64.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$27.20£20.11
-78.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.31
$1.86£1.38
-12.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.6K
$39.0K£28.8K
-41.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$450.7K
$42.1K£31.1K
-36.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,103
$345£255
-81.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$505
$17.09£12.63
74.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$618
$50.9£37.63
-28.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,031
$45.41£33.57
34.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$451
$41.04£30.33
-34.94%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$14.00£10.35
-51.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,664
$2,048£1,514
-77.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$226.0K
$25.0K£18.5K
-46.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,267
$103£76.5
-27.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$935
$50.4£37.23
9.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,920
$110£81.6
2.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,073
$99.7£73.7
23.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.2K
$1,201£888
-5.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.0K
$931£688
-23.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.5K
$2,248£1,662
14.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.2K
$1,639£1,212
-20.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.5K
$5,902£4,363
-32.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.4K
$5,719£4,227
-63.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cheltenham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
$4,877£3,605
-78.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.54
103.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Cheltenham: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $1,201 in Cheltenham. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cheltenham pays 366% 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 $106 in Cheltenham. Groceries flip the comparison at $345 vs $298, with Cheltenham 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 Cheltenham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheltenham cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 43% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Cheltenham?
On paper, salaries run 366% lower in Cheltenham. 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 Cheltenham?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,201 in Cheltenham. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Cheltenham?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $106 in Cheltenham. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Cheltenham?
All in, you'll spend $1,646 per month in Mexico City versus $2,346 in Cheltenham – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Cheltenham?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,346 in Cheltenham, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Cheltenham. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Cheltenham more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cheltenham, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Cheltenham?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Cheltenham are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% less than in Cheltenham. 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