😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $1,222 in Kempton Park.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,923 in Kempton Park.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,624 in Kempton Park.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 38% more expensive than in Kempton Park, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Kempton Park is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$9.46R 152
25.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$39.29R 633
32.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$6.31R 102
72.27%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$2.51R 40.36
60.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.07R 17.22
59.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.83R 13.44
61.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$2.52R 40.51
34.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$2.83R 45.66
102.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.35R 21.81
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.11R 17.84
185.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$1.80R 28.97
13.89%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$2.58R 41.56
16.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$8.29R 134
52.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$5.15R 82.9
93.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$8.89R 143
79.98%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$1.97R 31.68
66.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.69R 27.26
21.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.84R 29.67
13.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$2.09R 33.63
19.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$1.73R 27.84
18.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$1.77R 28.55
5.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$1.25R 20.16
25.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$1.36R 21.97
2.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$3.40R 54.7
58.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$5.61R 90.4
219.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$1.66R 26.66
21.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$2.40R 38.72
98.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$1.58R 25.52
-77.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$62.2R 1,002
-66.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$0.32R 5.22
543.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.83R 13.33
-32.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$14.93R 240
-61.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.48R 23.83
4.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$35.7KR 575.3K
-37.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$33.2KR 534.1K
-20.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$183R 2,948
-63.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$37.14R 598
-16.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$39.41R 635
-8.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$37.85R 610
51.99%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$12.30R 198
117.48%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$8.12R 131
-12.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$270R 4,344
69.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$5,642R 90.9K
134.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$54.5R 878
39.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$32.34R 521
67.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$92.7R 1,493
25.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$84.1R 1,355
44.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$313R 5,043
266.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$366R 5,892
98.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$772R 12.4K
224.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$743R 12.0K
79.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$886R 14.3K
339.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$638R 10.3K
236.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kempton Park
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$660R 10.6K
62.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
11.25
0.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Kempton Park: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $313 in Kempton Park. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 62% 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 $39.00 in Kempton Park for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $212 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 38% 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 in Kempton Park?
Average pay runs 62% higher in Mexico City, 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 compared to Kempton Park?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $313 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 in Kempton Park?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% 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 and in Kempton Park?
Dining out is cheaper in Kempton Park – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $52.0 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 in Kempton Park?
At $1,222 in Kempton Park versus $1,682 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 $1,222 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 38% 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