🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,114 in Rugby.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,198 in Rugby.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,282 in Rugby.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 31% less than in Rugby, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Rugby58% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$20.34£15.12
-35.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$81.5£60.6
-33.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$9.39£6.98
0.32%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$4.69£3.49
-24.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$2.01£1.49
-19.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$1.40£1.04
-20.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$5.39£4.01
-42.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$6.16£4.58
-24.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.61£1.20
5.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.59£1.19
71.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$2.66£1.97
-28.20%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$3.72£2.76
-31.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.95£8.14
-8.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$7.94£5.90
1.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$13.84£10.29
-16.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.60£1.93
14.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.72£1.28
5.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$2.07£1.54
-2.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$2.79£2.07
-27.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.66£1.23
27.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.41£1.05
60.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.11£0.82
26.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.39£1.03
-18.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$17.63£13.10
-75.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$12.24£9.10
27.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$3.45£2.56
-48.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$4.05£3.01
-11.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$2.78£2.07
-86.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$94.8£70.5
-79.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$4.55£3.38
-69.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.25£0.93
-77.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$24.62£18.30
-77.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.89£1.41
-31.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$39.0K£29.0K
-52.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$40.8K£30.3K
-43.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$284£211
-85.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$23.47£17.45
14.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$42.66£31.71
-29.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$50.2£37.33
3.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$13.79£10.25
94.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$13.37£9.94
-52.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$1,395£1,037
-68.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$14.0K£10.4K
-25.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$110£82.1
-48.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$36.29£26.98
22.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$117£86.7
-11.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$108£80.0
-1.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$802£596
27.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$805£599
-21.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$1,548£1,151
37.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,522£1,131
-18.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$5,067£3,766
-22.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$4,348£3,232
-52.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Rugby
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$3,287£2,443
-66.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.76
96.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Rugby: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $802 in Rugby. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rugby pays 195% 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 $81.0 in Rugby for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $296 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 Rugby: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Rugby?
Mexico City and Rugby differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $2,114 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Rugby earns 195% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Rugby?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $802 in Rugby. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Rugby?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 394% less than in Rugby. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Rugby?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $1,395 in Rugby. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,114 in Rugby, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Rugby. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Rugby?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Rugby?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Rugby. 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