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Athens vs Mexico City

Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.

Athens, GR vs Mexico City, MX at a glance — Mexico City, MX is 14% cheaper than Athens, GR overall. Median 1-bed rent runs about $800/mo versus $750/mo. Top income tax: 35% vs 44%.

$/ year

To keep the same standard of living in Mexico City, MX, you'd need

$64,495 / year

Mexico City, MX is 14% cheaper overall

Category breakdown (Mexico City, MX vs Athens, GR)

  • Housing-17%
  • Food & groceries-17%
  • Transport-9%
  • Utilities-20%
  • Healthcare0%
  • Goods & services-13%

◎ How Athens, GR and Mexico City, MX compare

HousingFood & groceriesTransportUtilitiesHealthcareGoods & services
Athens, GRMexico City, MX

Index vs the US average — the line marks 100. Lower is cheaper.

▤ Full comparison

Athens, GRMexico City, MX
Cost of living
Overall cost index7564
Housing7260
Food7865
Transport5550
Utilities10080
Healthcare6565
Goods & services8070
Housing
Rent, 1-bed centre$750/mo$800/mo
Rent, 1-bed outside$550/mo$550/mo
Rent, 3-bed centre$1,400/mo$1,600/mo
Buy price / m² centre$2,800$3,200
Money & purchasing power
$1,000 goes as far as$1,335$1,553
Inexpensive meal$13$5
Monthly transit pass$30$20
Taxes
Income tax (top rate)44%35%
VAT / sales tax24%16%
Corporate tax22%30%
Economy & salaries
Avg net salary$1,000/mo$700/mo
Avg annual wage (OECD, PPP)$32,412✓$24,463✓
Minimum wage$1,244/mo✓$420/mo
GDP per capita$23,565✓$13,889✓
Inflation (annual)2.6%✓3.8%✓
Work & digital nomad
Digital-nomad visaYesYes
English proficiencyModerateLow
Coworking spaces3570
Time zoneUTC+2UTC-6
Quality of life
Quality of life (overall)6656
Safety index6240
Healthcare index6568
Pollution index5575
Internet speed100 Mbps80 Mbps
Walkability7568
Public transport7270
Family-friendly6260
Tap waterSafe to drinkUse caution
Health insurance—$80/mo
Life expectancy82 yr✓75 yr✓
LGBTQ+ acceptanceModerateModerate
Climate
January avg+10 °C+14 °C
July avg+28 °C+17 °C
Sunny days / year250240
Rainfall / year400 mm850 mm
Connectivity
Flight to nearest hub2 h1 h

Taxes & Economy & salaries: Greece vs Mexico. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.

✓ = official statistics (OECD (PPP), Eurostat 2026, World Bank 2025, World Bank 2024). Unmarked figures are CostTrek estimates. How we calculate these figures →

Cost of living: Athens vs Mexico City — in your currency

AthensMexico City
1-bed rent, city centre$750$800
1-bed rent, outside centre$550$550
Inexpensive meal$13$5
Monthly transit pass$30$20
Utilities (monthly)$190$60

Converted from USD at approximate rates (2026-09).

Good to know before you move to Athens

Ancient ruins, Mediterranean sun and a coastline on the doorstep — the cheapest of the big Western-European capitals, with a golden visa and a 50% tax break drawing nomads. Grittier than the postcard, and warming fast.

Currency
Euro (€ EUR)
Languages
Greek
Time zone
UTC+2
Internet
100 Mbps
English
Fairly common
Safety
62/100
Climate
❄ 10°C · ☀ 28°C · 250 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Safe to drink
Power
F · 230V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Koukaki · Kolonaki · Exarchia · Glyfada

Good to know before you move to Mexico City

A vast, vibrant capital with a perfect spring-like climate — a top nomad pick, though air and traffic bite.

Currency
Mexican peso ($ MXN)
Languages
Spanish
Time zone
UTC-6
Internet
80 Mbps
English
Rarely spoken
Safety
40/100
Climate
❄ 14°C · ☀ 17°C · 240 sunny days/yr
Tap water
Bottled recommended
Power
A/B · 127V
Driving
Right-hand side
Popular areas
Roma · Condesa · Polanco

? Frequently asked questions

Moving from Athens to Mexico City: cheaper or more expensive?

Moving from Athens to Mexico City, your cost of living will be roughly 14% cheaper. Mexico City’s cost-of-living index is 64 versus 75 for Athens (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.

Is Athens cheaper than Mexico City?

Mexico City is about 14% cheaper than Athens overall — its cost-of-living index is 64 versus 75 for Athens.

Which is more expensive, Athens or Mexico City?

Athens is more expensive than Mexico City. Its cost-of-living index is 75 vs 64 (US = 100) — about 17% higher.

Is rent cheaper in Athens or Mexico City?

Rent is cheaper in Athens — about $750/month for a one-bedroom in the city centre, vs $800 in Mexico City.

How much do you need to earn in Mexico City to live like in Athens?

To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Athens is worth about $64,495 in Mexico City. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.

Which has lower taxes, Athens or Mexico City?

Mexico has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 44% in Greece.

◷ More comparisons from Athens

How we calculate these figures →

Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.