🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,676 in Southampton.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,835 in Southampton.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,994 in Southampton.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 46% less than in Southampton, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Southampton100% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$27.09£20.15
-51.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$77.1£57.4
-30.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$11.52£8.57
-15.97%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$5.07£3.77
-26.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$2.72£2.02
-40.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$2.35£1.75
-50.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$7.33£5.45
-55.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$6.93£5.15
-31.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.46£1.09
13.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$1.36£1.01
102.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$3.71£2.76
-49.60%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$5.22£3.88
-52.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$9.28£6.90
9.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$9.26£6.88
-10.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$14.82£11.02
-20.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.30£1.71
30.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.63£1.21
11.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.46£1.83
-18.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$2.98£2.21
-32.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.78£1.32
16.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.22£0.91
86.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.99£0.74
47.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$2.30£1.71
-53.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$17.69£13.16
-75.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$11.30£8.40
50.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$4.07£3.03
-57.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$3.47£2.58
3.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$2.91£2.16
-86.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$88.2£65.6
-78.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$4.47£3.32
-70.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.90£1.41
-85.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$32.45£24.14
-83.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.91£1.42
-29.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$39.0K£29.0K
-50.28%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$41.3K£30.7K
-42.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$339£252
-88.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$18.42£13.70
45.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$52.3£38.89
-41.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$42.54£31.64
24.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$18.49£13.75
44.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$12.42£9.24
-47.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$1,509£1,122
-71.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$18.1K£13.5K
-41.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$116£86.3
-50.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$53.0£39.43
-14.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$118£87.4
-11.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$149£111
-27.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$1,413£1,051
-28.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$1,197£891
-47.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$2,433£1,810
-13.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$1,784£1,327
-31.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$6,009£4,470
-35.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$5,472£4,070
-62.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Southampton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$3,307£2,460
-68.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.62
101.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Southampton: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $1,413 in Southampton. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Southampton pays 219% 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 $77.0 in Southampton for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $318 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 Southampton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Southampton?
Mexico City and Southampton differ by about 84% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $2,676 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, salaries run 219% lower in Southampton. 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 in Southampton?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $1,413 in Southampton. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Southampton?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 372% less than in Southampton. 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 Southampton?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $1,509 in Southampton. 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 $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,676 in Southampton, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Southampton. 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 Southampton?
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 Southampton?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Southampton. 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