😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,285 in Surrey versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,989 in Surrey versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,693 in Surrey versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Surrey is roughly 121% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey145% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.15£14.91
$12.98MX$226
55.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$84.5£62.5
$53.1MX$923
59.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.04£6.69
$9.72MX$169
-7.00%
Cappuccino
$4.63£3.43
$3.75MX$65.2
23.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22£1.64
$1.57MX$27.30
41.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58£1.17
$1.13MX$19.64
39.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.81£4.30
$3.18MX$55.3
82.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.51£4.08
$4.66MX$81.1
18.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56£1.15
$1.62MX$28.21
-3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49£1.10
$2.71MX$47.09
-45.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.90£2.15
$1.88MX$32.70
54.26%
Eggs
$3.34£2.47
$2.51MX$43.65
33.07%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.65£6.40
$10.08MX$175
-14.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.52£5.56
$8.29MX$144
-9.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.11£11.18
$11.94MX$208
26.55%
Apples(1kg)
$4.26£3.15
$2.86MX$49.77
48.95%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29£1.69
$1.75MX$30.45
30.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.02£2.24
$2.08MX$36.27
45.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.83£3.58
$1.97MX$34.27
145.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22£0.90
$2.16MX$37.58
-43.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72£1.27
$2.18MX$37.94
-21.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10£0.81
$1.39MX$24.20
-20.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.95£1.44
$1.12MX$19.57
74.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$13.72£10.15
$4.20MX$73.1
226.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.09£8.21
$14.25MX$248
-22.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.06£2.26
$1.76MX$30.68
73.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84£1.36
$3.68MX$64.1
-50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.19£3.10
$0.39MX$6.71
974.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$134£99.4
$18.66MX$325
619.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.72£3.49
$1.39MX$24.12
239.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.79£1.32
$0.30MX$5.29
496.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$40.28£29.81
$5.42MX$94.3
643.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88£1.39
$1.35MX$23.50
39.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K£28.9K
$18.9KMX$328.6K
106.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K£29.3K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
71.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$271£200
$40.82MX$710
563.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.47£11.45
$27.50MX$479
-43.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.06£30.39
$30.38MX$529
35.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.2£40.84
$53.4MX$930
3.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.30MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.79£7.98
$6.27MX$109
72.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,324£980
$436MX$7,588
203.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.2K£13.5K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
74.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$83.6£61.8
$56.8MX$988
47.22%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.18£31.95
$44.79MX$779
-3.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.7£64.1
$103MX$1,789
-15.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$136£100
$108MX$1,878
25.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,348£1,737
$1,000MX$17.4K
134.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,941£1,436
$620MX$10.8K
212.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,338£2,470
$2,137MX$37.2K
56.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,667£1,234
$1,235MX$21.5K
34.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,865MX$67.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,370£5,454
$2,332MX$40.6K
216.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,521£2,606
$1,067MX$18.6K
229.95%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
11.34
-47.97%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,348 in Surrey and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surrey pays 230% 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: $84.0 in Surrey vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $286 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 121% in total monthly costs ($3,285 vs $1,484 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 230% 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: $2,348 in Surrey versus $1,000 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 620% 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 $1,324 in Surrey 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 $1,484 in Mexico City versus $3,285 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.
Is Surrey or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surrey 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: Surrey or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.