Cost of Living Comparison Between Abidjan and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Abidjan and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$3.45 F CFA 1,947
$13.18 MX$228
-73.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7 F CFA 30.3K
$53.9 MX$932
-0.30%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.66 F CFA 6,012
$9.42 MX$163
13.16%
Cappuccino
$1.81 F CFA 1,020
$3.55 MX$61.4
-49.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 F CFA 485
$1.62 MX$27.98
-46.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 F CFA 467
$1.11 MX$19.27
-25.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.03 F CFA 580
$3.12 MX$54.0
-66.99%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 F CFA 1,008
$4.63 MX$80.1
-61.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.34 F CFA 1,322
$1.70 MX$29.43
37.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.62 F CFA 350
$2.72 MX$47.02
-77.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 F CFA 728
$1.91 MX$33.07
-32.46%
Eggs
$2.29 F CFA 1,290
$2.54 MX$43.86
-9.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.28 F CFA 13.1K
$10.03 MX$174
132.10%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.59 F CFA 4,846
$8.09 MX$140
6.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.24 F CFA 3,519
$11.62 MX$201
-46.30%
Apples (1kg)
$3.91 F CFA 2,203
$2.97 MX$51.3
31.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 F CFA 646
$1.81 MX$31.24
-36.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 F CFA 1,238
$2.01 MX$34.82
9.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 F CFA 1,145
$2.03 MX$35.20
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.68 F CFA 949
$2.12 MX$36.75
-20.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 F CFA 989
$2.27 MX$39.25
-22.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 F CFA 502
$1.40 MX$24.22
-36.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91 F CFA 512
$1.13 MX$19.55
-19.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73 F CFA 973
$4.27 MX$73.9
-59.48%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.25 F CFA 3,524
$15.56 MX$269
-59.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 F CFA 596
$1.76 MX$30.39
-39.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.42 F CFA 803
$3.60 MX$62.2
-60.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 F CFA 555
$0.38 MX$6.62
157.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.40 F CFA 27.9K
$19.18 MX$332
157.56%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.74 F CFA 982
$1.38 MX$23.79
26.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.55 F CFA 873
$0.28 MX$4.78
453.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.56 F CFA 15.0K
$5.45 MX$94.2
387.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 F CFA 876
$1.30 MX$22.55
19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K F CFA 18.2M
$18.7K MX$323.2K
72.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K F CFA 16.8M
$23.1K MX$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)
$183 F CFA 103.0K
$40.86 MX$707
347.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.19 F CFA 20.4K
$26.81 MX$464
34.99%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.08 F CFA 25.4K
$29.96 MX$518
50.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.6 F CFA 45.5K
$52.0 MX$900
54.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96 F CFA 12.4K
$26.84 MX$464
-18.18%
Cinema Ticket
$8.91 F CFA 5,024
$6.30 MX$109
41.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$285 F CFA 161.0K
$436 MX$7,544
-34.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,287 F CFA 1.9M
$10.4K MX$180.2K
-68.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.7 F CFA 52.3K
$56.7 MX$980
63.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.9 F CFA 32.6K
$44.38 MX$768
30.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.6 F CFA 47.7K
$103 MX$1,780
-17.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$138 F CFA 77.6K
$106 MX$1,825
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 F CFA 351.4K
$1,022 MX$17.7K
-39.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 F CFA 225.0K
$631 MX$10.9K
-36.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,880 F CFA 1.1M
$2,136 MX$36.9K
-12.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$920 F CFA 518.8K
$1,243 MX$21.5K
-25.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,302 F CFA 1.3M
$3,903 MX$67.5K
-41.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$707 F CFA 398.8K
$2,064 MX$35.7K
-65.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abidjan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$221 F CFA 124.7K
$1,115 MX$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.

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