🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,487 in Kos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $2,293 in Kos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $3,099 in Kos.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 2% less than in Kos, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Kos11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$17.04€14.93
-23.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$74.2€65.0
-27.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$11.94€10.46
-18.93%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$4.74€4.15
-21.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$3.21€2.81
-49.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$1.11€0.97
4.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$4.58€4.01
-29.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$6.93€6.07
-31.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$2.37€2.08
-30.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.70€1.49
61.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$2.47€2.16
-24.29%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$4.03€3.53
-37.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$13.51€11.83
-24.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$9.66€8.46
-14.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$13.68€11.99
-13.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.14€1.87
40.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.11€1.85
-14.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.43€1.25
39.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.97€1.73
1.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.27€1.12
63.78%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.24€1.09
83.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.01€0.89
44.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.75€0.66
44.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$5.36€4.70
-18.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.79€5.95
150.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$2.03€1.78
-14.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.72€2.38
31.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.60€1.40
-75.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$45.73€40.05
-59.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$4.62€4.04
-71.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$13.79€12.08
-61.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$2.17€1.90
-38.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$31.0K€27.2K
-37.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$27.0K€23.7K
-11.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$213€186
-80.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$23.37€20.46
14.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$35.79€31.35
-14.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$48.34€42.33
9.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$26.52€23.22
0.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$9.33€8.17
-30.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$420€368
2.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$5,936€5,199
76.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$87.6€76.8
-34.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$38.88€34.06
17.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$89.8€78.6
15.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$109€95.3
-0.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$490€429
104.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$376€329
65.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$744€652
183.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$604€529
101.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$2,447€2,143
58.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$2,497€2,187
-18.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$925€810
12.22%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.43
155.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kos: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $490 in Kos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $74.0 in Kos. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $284, with Kos 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 Kos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Kos?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Kos. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Kos?
Average pay runs 12% 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 Kos?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $490 in Kos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Kos?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $74.0 in Kos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Kos?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $1,487 in Kos – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Kos?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,487 in Kos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Kos. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Kos?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Kos?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kos 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 Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Kos. 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