🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,325 in Abidjan versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,172 in Abidjan versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,020 in Abidjan versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Abidjan costs roughly 10% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Abidjan is 1% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.45F CFA 1,947
$13.18MX$228
-73.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7F CFA 30.3K
$53.9MX$932
-0.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.66F CFA 6,012
$9.42MX$163
13.16%
Cappuccino
$1.81F CFA 1,020
$3.55MX$61.4
-49.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 485
$1.62MX$27.98
-46.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83F CFA 467
$1.11MX$19.27
-25.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03F CFA 580
$3.12MX$54.0
-66.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79F CFA 1,008
$4.63MX$80.1
-61.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.34F CFA 1,322
$1.70MX$29.43
37.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62F CFA 350
$2.72MX$47.02
-77.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.29F CFA 728
$1.91MX$33.07
-32.46%
Eggs
$2.29F CFA 1,290
$2.54MX$43.86
-9.84%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$23.28F CFA 13.1K
$10.03MX$174
132.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.59F CFA 4,846
$8.09MX$140
6.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.24F CFA 3,519
$11.62MX$201
-46.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.91F CFA 2,203
$2.97MX$51.3
31.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15F CFA 646
$1.81MX$31.24
-36.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20F CFA 1,238
$2.01MX$34.82
9.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03F CFA 1,145
$2.03MX$35.20
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.68F CFA 949
$2.12MX$36.75
-20.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75F CFA 989
$2.27MX$39.25
-22.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89F CFA 502
$1.40MX$24.22
-36.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91F CFA 512
$1.13MX$19.55
-19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73F CFA 973
$4.27MX$73.9
-59.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.25F CFA 3,524
$15.56MX$269
-59.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06F CFA 596
$1.76MX$30.39
-39.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42F CFA 803
$3.60MX$62.2
-60.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98F CFA 555
$0.38MX$6.62
157.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.40F CFA 27.9K
$19.18MX$332
157.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.74F CFA 982
$1.38MX$23.79
26.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.55F CFA 873
$0.28MX$4.78
453.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.56F CFA 15.0K
$5.45MX$94.2
387.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55F CFA 876
$1.30MX$22.55
19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3KF CFA 18.2M
$18.7KMX$323.2K
72.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8KF CFA 16.8M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
29.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$183F CFA 103.0K
$40.86MX$707
347.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.19F CFA 20.4K
$26.81MX$464
34.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.08F CFA 25.4K
$29.96MX$518
50.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$80.6F CFA 45.5K
$52.0MX$900
54.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96F CFA 12.4K
$26.84MX$464
-18.18%
Cinema Ticket
$8.91F CFA 5,024
$6.30MX$109
41.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285F CFA 161.0K
$436MX$7,544
-34.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,287F CFA 1.9M
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-68.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7F CFA 52.3K
$56.7MX$980
63.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9F CFA 32.6K
$44.38MX$768
30.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6F CFA 47.7K
$103MX$1,780
-17.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138F CFA 77.6K
$106MX$1,825
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$623F CFA 351.4K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-39.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399F CFA 225.0K
$631MX$10.9K
-36.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,880F CFA 1.1M
$2,136MX$36.9K
-12.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$920F CFA 518.8K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-25.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,302F CFA 1.3M
$3,903MX$67.5K
-41.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$707F CFA 398.8K
$2,064MX$35.7K
-65.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$221F CFA 124.7K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-80.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
14.75
11.34
30.07%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Abidjan: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $623 in Abidjan and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 404% 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: $54.0 in Abidjan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $288 per month, with Abidjan 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
Abidjan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Abidjan?
Abidjan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Abidjan or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 404% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Abidjan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $623 in Abidjan versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Abidjan or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Abidjan – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Abidjan vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,325 per month in Abidjan versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Abidjan or Mexico City?
At $1,325 in Abidjan versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Abidjan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Abidjan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Abidjan or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Abidjan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Abidjan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.