😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,014 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,579 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,145 in Kempton Park.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 46% more expensive than Kempton Park, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Kempton Park is 24% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$8.31R 139
56.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$33.84R 568
56.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$4.77R 80.0
103.77%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.18R 36.63
72.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.04R 17.43
50.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.82R 13.80
37.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.19R 36.72
45.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.59R 43.37
79.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.24R 20.87
30.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.06R 17.75
155.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.66R 27.86
13.25%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.37R 39.77
5.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$7.62R 128
32.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.69R 78.6
76.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$6.63R 111
80.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.71R 28.64
67.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.53R 25.67
14.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.60R 26.90
30.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.64R 27.54
20.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.46R 24.43
47.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.44R 24.07
51.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.09R 18.28
27.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.12R 18.71
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.02R 50.6
39.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$5.47R 91.8
160.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.50R 25.16
17.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.85R 31.07
98.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.36R 22.81
-71.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$56.6R 948
-67.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$1.09R 18.26
27.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.94R 15.84
-68.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$4.15R 69.6
30.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.32R 22.17
2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$22.4KR 375.9K
-15.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$24.4KR 408.6K
-4.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$124R 2,082
-67.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$41.01R 688
-32.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$42.95R 720
-29.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$25.75R 432
107.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$5.57R 93.4
372.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.35R 123
-14.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$206R 3,451
111.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,431R 74.3K
136.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$50.7R 850
12.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$32.58R 546
37.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$88.4R 1,482
16.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$78.0R 1,307
38.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$279R 4,676
258.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$255R 4,283
142.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$693R 11.6K
208.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$563R 9,437
119.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$810R 13.6K
377.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$688R 11.5K
238.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$642R 10.8K
66.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11.51
-1.48%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $279 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 66% 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 $34.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $185 per month, with Kempton Park 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 Kempton Park: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Kempton Park?
Kempton Park wins on cost – living expenses run 46% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kempton Park the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Kempton Park?
Mexico City pays 66% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $279 in Kempton Park. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Kempton Park?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $34.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Kempton Park?
At $1,014 in Kempton Park versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Kempton Park but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kempton Park the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Kempton Park?
Both work as nomad bases, but Kempton Park delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,014 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Kempton Park hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Kempton Park?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kempton Park 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kempton Park gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% 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