😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $1,669 in Heraklion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $2,620 in Heraklion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $3,572 in Heraklion.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 1% more expensive than in Heraklion, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City23% above, Heraklion22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$14.99€12.82
-21.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$57.4€49.12
-9.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$10.25€8.77
6.05%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$4.06€3.47
-0.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$2.53€2.17
-32.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.81€0.69
65.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$5.77€4.94
-41.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$5.46€4.67
5.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.86€1.59
1.61%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.48€1.26
114.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$2.58€2.21
-20.54%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$4.73€4.05
-36.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$15.93€13.63
-20.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$11.10€9.50
-10.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$15.71€13.44
1.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$2.31€1.98
41.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$2.22€1.90
-7.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.44€1.23
45.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$1.99€1.71
25.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$1.20€1.03
70.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$1.33€1.14
40.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$0.92€0.78
70.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.77€0.66
80.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$5.15€4.41
4.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$7.37€6.30
143.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$2.12€1.81
-4.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$3.02€2.59
57.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$1.53€1.31
-76.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$69.9€59.8
-70.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$4.62€3.95
-55.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$1.18€1.01
-52.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$11.55€9.88
-49.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$2.16€1.85
-28.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$28.6K€24.5K
-21.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$25.8K€22.1K
2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$204€174
-67.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$31.02€26.54
-0.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$40.25€34.43
-10.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$50.3€43.05
14.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$40.94€35.02
-34.66%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$9.22€7.88
-22.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$419€359
8.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$4,219€3,609
213.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$85.1€72.8
-10.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$43.51€37.22
24.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$86.8€74.3
34.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$140€120
-13.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$673€576
70.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$508€434
42.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$1,119€957
123.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$1,033€884
28.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$3,980€3,404
-2.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$2,908€2,488
-26.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$1,159€991
-7.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
4.44
155.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Heraklion: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $673 in Heraklion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $57.0 in Heraklion. Groceries flip the comparison at $344 vs $304, with Heraklion 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 Heraklion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heraklion cheaper than Mexico City?
Heraklion is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Heraklion?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Heraklion. 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 Heraklion?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $673 in Heraklion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $457 in Mexico City versus $419 in Heraklion. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Heraklion?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Heraklion?
At $1,669 in Heraklion versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Heraklion but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Heraklion the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Heraklion more family-friendly?
For families, Heraklion is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Heraklion?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Heraklion 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 Heraklion gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Mexico City. 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