🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,125 in Kettering.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $2,793 in Kettering.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $3,461 in Kettering.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 31% less than in Kettering, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Kettering59% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$20.04£14.92
-34.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$82.8£61.7
-34.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$10.76£8.01
-12.45%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$4.55£3.39
-21.98%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$1.97£1.47
-17.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$1.38£1.03
-19.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$5.49£4.09
-43.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$5.45£4.06
-15.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.15£0.85
47.83%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.57£1.17
73.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$2.06£1.53
-7.28%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$4.22£3.14
-39.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.19£7.59
-1.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$7.30£5.44
10.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$15.83£11.79
-26.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$3.26£2.43
-8.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.75£1.30
3.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$2.76£2.05
-27.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$2.53£1.88
-19.76%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.99£0.74
114.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.67£1.24
35.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.03£0.77
35.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$1.52£1.14
-25.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$16.31£12.15
-73.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$10.88£8.10
43.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$2.54£1.89
-30.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$1.91£1.42
88.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$2.69£2.00
-85.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$87.3£65.0
-78.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$4.15£3.09
-66.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$1.99£1.48
-85.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$25.00£18.62
-78.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.97£1.47
-34.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$38.0K£28.3K
-50.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$42.2K£31.4K
-45.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$255£190
-84.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$16.52£12.30
62.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$35.46£26.41
-15.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$41.06£30.58
26.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$13.51£10.06
-53.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$1,401£1,043
-68.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$13.6K£10.1K
-23.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$74.7£55.6
-24.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$36.47£27.16
21.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$70.4£52.4
46.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$90.6£67.5
16.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$1,070£797
-4.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$878£654
-28.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$1,069£796
99.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$794£592
56.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$5,477£4,080
-28.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kettering
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$4,321£3,218
-74.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.79
95.85%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kettering: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,070 in Kettering. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kettering pays 288% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $83.0 in Kettering. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $284, with Kettering 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 Kettering: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kettering cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Kettering?
On paper, Kettering earns 288% 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 Kettering?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,070 in Kettering. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 355% less than in Kettering. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $1,401 in Kettering. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Kettering?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,125 in Kettering, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kettering. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Kettering more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kettering, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Kettering?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kettering 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 45% less than in Kettering. 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