😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,063 in Surrey versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,476 in Surrey versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,888 in Surrey versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Surrey is roughly 85% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Surrey124% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$23.33£17.47
$11.92MX$205
95.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.5£43.80
$51.6MX$886
13.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72£7.28
$11.41MX$196
-14.81%
Cappuccino
$4.98£3.72
$3.99MX$68.6
24.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34£1.75
$1.66MX$28.48
40.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44£1.08
$1.33MX$22.77
8.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$6.89£5.16
$3.47MX$59.6
98.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.10£4.56
$5.90MX$101
3.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36£1.02
$1.88MX$32.21
-27.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.07£1.55
$3.25MX$55.9
-36.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59£1.19
$2.16MX$37.10
-26.39%
Eggs
$4.14£3.10
$2.90MX$49.72
42.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.39£6.28
$12.86MX$221
-34.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.00£6.74
$10.05MX$173
-10.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.47£12.33
$15.86MX$272
3.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.21£2.40
$3.29MX$56.6
-2.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.52£1.14
$2.01MX$34.44
-24.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05£1.54
$2.20MX$37.76
-6.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.43£2.57
$2.36MX$40.44
45.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45£1.09
$2.05MX$35.27
-29.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.83£1.37
$1.90MX$32.64
-3.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48£1.11
$1.61MX$27.55
-8.07%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24£0.93
$1.40MX$23.98
-11.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$23.62£17.69
$5.46MX$93.8
332.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.67£7.99
$17.65MX$303
-39.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.38£1.78
$2.06MX$35.28
15.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52£1.89
$4.68MX$80.4
-46.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.14£3.10
$0.34MX$5.81
1117.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$20.81MX$357
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.24£3.93
$2.10MX$35.99
149.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.56MX$9.60
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.81MX$99.8
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.95£1.46
$1.61MX$27.56
21.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.9K£29.2K
$22.8KMX$392.1K
70.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.1K£31.6K
$26.8KMX$459.2K
57.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$266£199
$65.2MX$1,119
308.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.66£10.23
$30.09MX$517
-54.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.33£27.20
$37.18MX$638
-2.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.9£41.10
$59.8MX$1,026
-8.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.84£14.11
$26.55MX$456
-29.04%
Cinema Ticket
$13.63£10.20
$7.04MX$121
93.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,139£1,602
$465MX$7,976
360.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.1K£22.6K
$13.3KMX$227.8K
127.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.3£39.93
$75.9MX$1,303
-29.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.04£29.98
$56.0MX$960
-28.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0£67.4
$112MX$1,920
-19.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.7£70.2
$121MX$2,068
-22.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,935£1,449
$1,103MX$18.9K
75.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,913£1,432
$721MX$12.4K
165.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,414£2,556
$2,530MX$43.4K
34.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$3,344£2,503
$1,293MX$22.2K
158.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,325£5,484
$2,090MX$35.9K
250.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surrey
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,601£3,445
$1,037MX$17.8K
343.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.4
11.3
-52.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surrey: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,935 in Surrey and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surrey pays 344% 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: $58.0 in Surrey vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $294 vs $345, with Surrey cheaper for home cooking.
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 in Mexico City?
Surrey and Mexico City differ by about 85% in total monthly costs ($3,063 vs $1,660 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?
Average pay runs 344% higher in Surrey, 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,935 in Surrey versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surrey and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $2,139 in Surrey versus $465 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $58.0 in Surrey. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,063 in Surrey, a $3,000 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 85% less than in Surrey. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.