Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tres Cantos and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Tres Cantos: $1,528 a month against $1,674 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $1,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tres Cantos, Spain
Mexico City, Mexico
Tres Cantos
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,528
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,674
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tres Cantos and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Tres Cantos and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,528 in Tres Cantos versus $1,674 in Mexico City.

  • Tres Cantos $1,528
  • Mexico City $1,674

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Tres Cantos versus $2,606 in Mexico City.

  • Tres Cantos $2,352
  • Mexico City $2,606

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,176 in Tres Cantos versus $3,537 in Mexico City.

  • Tres Cantos $3,176
  • Mexico City $3,537

Living in Tres Cantos costs roughly 9% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tres Cantos 13% above, Mexico City 24% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.95 €14.22
$10.59 MX$199
50.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.24 €43.92
$52.0 MX$978
-5.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.00 €9.81
$10.73 MX$202
2.52%
Cappuccino
$2.30 €2.05
$3.80 MX$71.4
-39.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49 €2.22
$1.61 MX$30.35
54.66%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 €1.44
$1.21 MX$22.81
33.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.97 €2.65
$3.18 MX$59.8
-6.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 €3.11
$5.44 MX$102
-35.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 €1.08
$1.72 MX$32.32
-29.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.60 €1.42
$2.97 MX$55.8
-46.13%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.37 €1.22
$1.93 MX$36.24
-29.02%
Eggs
$3.15 €2.81
$2.77 MX$52.2
13.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.47 €12.91
$11.67 MX$220
23.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.23 €7.34
$9.48 MX$178
-13.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.19 €15.34
$15.37 MX$289
11.84%
Apples (1kg)
$2.31 €2.06
$3.10 MX$58.4
-25.48%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 €1.57
$1.96 MX$36.90
-10.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 €1.99
$1.98 MX$37.30
12.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.92 €2.61
$2.34 MX$43.95
24.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 €1.78
$2.02 MX$38.08
-0.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 €1.67
$1.82 MX$34.34
2.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.29 €1.15
$1.54 MX$29.06
-16.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 €0.60
$1.31 MX$24.70
-48.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 €5.25
$5.35 MX$101
9.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.57 €4.97
$16.19 MX$305
-65.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 €1.12
$1.96 MX$36.87
-35.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 €1.84
$4.35 MX$81.9
-52.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.76 €1.57
$0.30 MX$5.74
486.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$33.87 €30.22
$19.49 MX$367
73.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.89 €3.47
$1.92 MX$36.08
102.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.22 €1.09
$0.47 MX$8.90
159.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$24.09 €21.49
$5.41 MX$102
345.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 €1.62
$1.48 MX$27.92
22.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.4K €34.2K
$21.4K MX$402.2K
79.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8K €29.2K
$23.8K MX$447.1K
37.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 €123
$62.0 MX$1,167
121.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.48 €14.70
$28.47 MX$536
-42.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.50 €23.64
$34.11 MX$642
-22.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.91 €39.17
$58.4 MX$1,099
-24.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.47 €13.80
$24.50 MX$461
-36.86%
Cinema Ticket
$8.58 €7.65
$6.59 MX$124
30.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$508 €453
$434 MX$8,172
16.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,119 €8,134
$14.0K MX$264.1K
-35.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.1 €69.7
$68.4 MX$1,286
14.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.22 €30.53
$54.8 MX$1,031
-37.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.7 €72.9
$111 MX$2,086
-26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 €107
$116 MX$2,183
3.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,026 €915
$1,179 MX$22.2K
-13.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$595 €531
$771 MX$14.5K
-22.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,356 €1,210
$2,570 MX$48.4K
-47.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,068 €953
$1,420 MX$26.7K
-24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,498 €3,120
$3,586 MX$67.5K
-2.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,913 €1,707
$2,064 MX$38.8K
-7.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tres Cantos
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,191 €2,846
$1,003 MX$18.9K
218.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.3
11.35
-70.93%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tres Cantos: November 2, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Tres Cantos
$595
Mexico City
$771 29.5% $176
Groceries & Markets
Tres Cantos
$272
Mexico City
$324 18.8% $51
Eating Out
Tres Cantos
$226
Mexico City
$201 11.4% $26
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tres Cantos
$180
Mexico City
$125 31% $56
Clothing & Footwear
Tres Cantos
$141
Mexico City
$158 11.6% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Tres Cantos
$61
Mexico City
$72 17.2% $10
Getting Around
Tres Cantos
$51
Mexico City
$25 50.9% $26

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,026 in Tres Cantos and $1,179 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tres Cantos pays about 3.2 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49 in Tres Cantos vs $52 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $324 per month, with Tres Cantos cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇪🇸 Tres Cantos
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
03:42 3:42 AM
20:42 8:42 PM
7 h behind Tres Cantos
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
51,453
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18.82 MXN (100 MXN = 5.31 USD). 1 EUR = 21.05 MXN (100 MXN = 4.75 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tres Cantos Mexico City 9,060 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tres Cantos
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Tres Cantos vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tres Cantos and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,528 in Tres Cantos and $1,674 in Mexico City, so Tres Cantos is about 9% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tres Cantos or Mexico City?
Average pay in Tres Cantos is about 3.2 times higher, 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 Tres Cantos and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,026 in Tres Cantos versus $1,179 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Tres Cantos and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 42% less than in Tres Cantos. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tres Cantos and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $508 in Tres Cantos versus $434 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Tres Cantos is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Tres Cantos 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.

Tres Cantos vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?