😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,737 in Surrey versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,155 in Surrey versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,573 in Surrey versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Surrey is roughly 89% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey104% above, Mexico City8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$18.61CA$25.99
$12.98MX$223
43.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$79.9CA$112
$52.6MX$903
51.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.92CA$15.25
$9.43MX$162
15.80%
Cappuccino
$4.14CA$5.78
$3.57MX$61.3
15.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04CA$2.85
$1.61MX$27.55
26.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.73CA$2.42
$1.15MX$19.81
50.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.84CA$8.16
$3.15MX$54.0
85.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.19CA$10.04
$4.86MX$83.4
47.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.65CA$3.71
$1.70MX$29.17
55.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64CA$3.69
$2.64MX$45.23
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$5.56CA$7.77
$1.90MX$32.67
192.63%
Eggs
$3.59CA$5.02
$2.54MX$43.62
41.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.42CA$14.55
$10.08MX$173
3.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.79CA$16.47
$8.29MX$142
42.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$24.99CA$34.90
$11.57MX$199
115.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.46CA$4.83
$3.03MX$52.0
14.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.34CA$1.87
$1.71MX$29.35
-21.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.08CA$4.30
$2.05MX$35.16
50.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.53CA$4.92
$2.06MX$35.36
71.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.40CA$3.35
$2.06MX$35.43
16.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.02CA$2.82
$2.17MX$37.25
-6.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.48CA$3.47
$1.40MX$24.08
77.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.03CA$2.83
$1.12MX$19.26
81.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.57CA$20.35
$4.29MX$73.7
239.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.30CA$19.98
$15.41MX$265
-7.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.82CA$5.33
$1.67MX$28.74
128.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.98CA$5.55
$3.69MX$63.3
7.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.09CA$4.32
$0.38MX$6.55
713.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$129CA$181
$19.06MX$327
579.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69CA$3.76
$1.38MX$23.70
94.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.47CA$2.06
$0.28MX$4.74
425.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.31CA$39.53
$5.42MX$92.9
422.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35CA$1.89
$1.28MX$21.98
5.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KCA$34.5K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
30.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KCA$29.0K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-11.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188CA$263
$41.02MX$704
358.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$42.02CA$58.7
$26.92MX$462
56.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$67.8CA$94.7
$29.69MX$510
128.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.10CA$61.6
$52.3MX$898
-15.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.11CA$25.29
$26.23MX$450
-30.96%
Cinema Ticket
$12.33CA$17.22
$6.18MX$106
99.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$907CA$1,267
$427MX$7,331
112.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$12.6KCA$17.5K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
17.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0CA$79.5
$56.8MX$975
0.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.6CA$74.8
$44.83MX$769
19.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105CA$147
$105MX$1,794
0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.8CA$132
$106MX$1,819
-10.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,631CA$2,278
$995MX$17.1K
64.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,363CA$1,904
$621MX$10.7K
119.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,112CA$4,346
$2,126MX$36.5K
46.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,444CA$3,413
$1,254MX$21.5K
94.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$9,608CA$13.4K
$3,903MX$67.0K
146.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$8,793CA$12.3K
$2,096MX$36.0K
319.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,153CA$4,403
$1,107MX$19.0K
184.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.54
11.34
-42.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,631 in Surrey and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surrey pays 185% 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: $80.0 in Surrey vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $411 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
Surrey vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surrey and Mexico City?
Surrey and Mexico City differ by about 89% in total monthly costs ($2,737 vs $1,447 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Surrey or Mexico City?
Surrey pays 185% 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 Surrey and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,631 in Surrey versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Surrey and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 579% less than in Surrey. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surrey and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $907 in Surrey versus $427 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 $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,737 in Surrey, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Surrey. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surrey 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.
Where should expats move: Surrey or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 89% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.