😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,688 in Rhodes versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,653 in Rhodes versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,618 in Rhodes versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Rhodes is roughly 15% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Rhodes26% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.15€14.76
$13.18MX$228
30.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.7€56.5
$53.9MX$932
21.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.36€8.05
$9.42MX$163
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$4.35€3.74
$3.55MX$61.4
22.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42€2.08
$1.62MX$27.98
49.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68€0.58
$1.11MX$19.27
-38.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.75€4.95
$3.12MX$54.0
84.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.59€3.95
$4.63MX$80.1
-0.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.17€1.87
$1.70MX$29.43
27.65%
White Bread(500g)
$2.06€1.77
$2.72MX$47.02
-24.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.92€4.23
$1.91MX$33.07
157.59%
Eggs
$5.97€5.14
$2.54MX$43.86
135.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51€15.06
$10.03MX$174
74.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.67€14.34
$8.09MX$140
106.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.48€14.18
$11.62MX$201
41.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27€1.95
$2.97MX$51.3
-23.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98€1.71
$1.81MX$31.24
9.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50€1.29
$2.01MX$34.82
-25.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.16
$2.03MX$35.20
23.65%
Potato(1kg)
$1.91€1.64
$2.12MX$36.75
-9.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11€1.81
$2.27MX$39.25
-7.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.34€1.16
$1.40MX$24.22
-4.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78€0.67
$1.13MX$19.55
-30.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.26€4.53
$4.27MX$73.9
23.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.15€7.01
$15.56MX$269
-47.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.63€2.26
$1.76MX$30.39
49.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67€2.30
$3.60MX$62.2
-25.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.29€1.97
$0.38MX$6.62
502.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$92.2€79.3
$19.18MX$332
380.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.56€3.92
$1.38MX$23.79
230.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.40€9.81
$5.45MX$94.2
109.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.16€1.85
$1.30MX$22.55
66.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K€29.8K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
85.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
14.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173€149
$40.86MX$707
322.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.16€18.20
$26.81MX$464
-21.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.66€24.65
$29.96MX$518
-4.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$60.7€52.3
$52.0MX$900
16.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.53€9.92
$26.84MX$464
-57.04%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29€7.99
$6.30MX$109
47.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$403€347
$436MX$7,544
-7.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,972€5,137
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-42.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$177€152
$56.7MX$980
211.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.84€37.71
$44.38MX$768
-1.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108€92.8
$103MX$1,780
4.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$174€150
$106MX$1,825
65.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576€495
$1,022MX$17.7K
-43.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$422€363
$631MX$10.9K
-33.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$968€833
$2,136MX$36.9K
-54.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$688€591
$1,243MX$21.5K
-44.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,912€3,365
$3,903MX$67.5K
0.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,794€1,543
$2,064MX$35.7K
-13.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rhodes
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,387€1,193
$1,115MX$19.3K
24.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.7
11.34
-58.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rhodes: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $576 in Rhodes and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rhodes pays 24% 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: $66.0 in Rhodes vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $372 vs $288 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
Rhodes vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rhodes and Mexico City?
Rhodes and Mexico City differ by about 15% in total monthly costs ($1,688 vs $1,467 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rhodes or Mexico City?
Rhodes pays 24% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Rhodes and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $576 in Rhodes versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Rhodes and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 381% less than in Rhodes. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rhodes and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $403 in Rhodes versus $436 in Mexico City. 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 $1,688 in Rhodes, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Rhodes. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rhodes and Mexico City?
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.
Is Rhodes or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rhodes and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rhodes or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Rhodes. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.