🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,543 in Heraklion.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,476 in Heraklion.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $3,409 in Heraklion.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 4% less than in Heraklion, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Heraklion15% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$13.64€11.67
-4.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$57.5€49.24
-7.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$11.68€10.00
-16.78%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.92€3.36
-4.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$2.26€1.94
-30.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.56€0.48
101.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$5.69€4.87
-44.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$5.66€4.85
-17.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.91€1.64
-15.18%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.51€1.29
79.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.65€2.27
-29.06%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$5.79€4.95
-56.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$16.90€14.47
-40.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$11.73€10.04
-29.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$14.64€12.53
-18.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.23€1.91
28.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.11€1.80
-17.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.49€1.28
39.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.85€1.58
6.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.29€1.11
67.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.53€1.31
42.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.95€0.81
46.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.67€0.57
67.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$5.39€4.61
-22.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$8.17€7.00
74.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.07€1.78
-14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.31€2.83
11.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.59€1.36
-75.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$46.07€39.43
-59.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$4.69€4.02
-70.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$11.61€9.94
-53.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$2.11€1.80
-36.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$35.1K€30.1K
-46.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$25.7K€22.0K
-9.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$219€188
-81.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$23.45€20.07
17.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$37.26€31.89
-18.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$51.5€44.11
3.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$41.21€35.28
-36.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$9.11€7.80
-31.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$423€362
3.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,237€3,627
147.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$99.5€85.1
-42.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$46.92€40.17
-4.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$89.6€76.7
14.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$136€117
-20.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$545€466
83.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$415€355
49.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$1,039€890
105.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$889€761
38.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$4,071€3,485
-5.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$2,861€2,449
-18.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Heraklion
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$1,147€982
-6.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.44
155.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Heraklion: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $545 in Heraklion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Heraklion pays 7% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $58.0 in Heraklion for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $312 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 Heraklion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Heraklion cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Heraklion?
On paper, Heraklion earns 7% less. 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: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $545 in Heraklion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $423 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 Heraklion?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Heraklion. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Heraklion?
At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,543 in Heraklion, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Heraklion. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Heraklion more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Heraklion, 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Heraklion. 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