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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,121 in Abuja versus $1,660 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,034 in Abuja versus $2,565 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,947 in Abuja versus $3,470 in Mexico City.

Living in Abuja costs roughly 32% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Abuja is 18% below, Mexico City is 21% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.22 ₦2,940

$11.92 MX$206

-81.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.30 ₦40.1K

$51.6 MX$890

-41.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.44 ₦5,890

$11.41 MX$197

-61.09%

Cappuccino

$3.33 ₦4,407

$3.99 MX$68.9

-16.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₦682

$1.66 MX$28.61

-69.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ₦943

$1.33 MX$22.87

-46.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.07 ₦1,414

$3.47 MX$59.9

-69.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 ₦2,767

$5.90 MX$102

-64.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.62 ₦4,796

$1.88 MX$32.36

92.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 ₦1,734

$3.25 MX$56.1

-59.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.17 ₦2,881

$2.16 MX$37.26

0.46%

Eggs

$1.88 ₦2,489

$2.90 MX$49.94

-35.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 ₦14.8K

$12.86 MX$222

-13.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.39 ₦7,143

$10.05 MX$173

-46.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.90 ₦7,824

$15.86 MX$273

-62.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.07 ₦2,741

$3.29 MX$56.8

-37.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 ₦1,891

$2.01 MX$34.60

-28.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 ₦2,003

$2.20 MX$37.93

-31.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 ₦3,131

$2.36 MX$40.63

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 ₦2,397

$2.05 MX$35.43

-11.71%

Onion (1kg)

$2.49 ₦3,295

$1.90 MX$32.79

31.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.56 ₦741

$1.61 MX$27.68

-65.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦492

$1.40 MX$24.09

-73.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 ₦2,671

$5.46 MX$94.2

-63.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.71 ₦7,568

$17.65 MX$304

-67.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 ₦1,583

$2.06 MX$35.44

-42.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 ₦2,452

$4.68 MX$80.8

-60.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 ₦481

$0.34 MX$5.84

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.36 ₦42.9K

$20.81 MX$359

55.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.62 ₦821

$2.10 MX$36.15

-70.48%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 ₦1,163

$0.56 MX$9.64

57.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₦2,483

$5.81 MX$100

-67.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 ₦719

$1.61 MX$27.68

-66.46%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K ₦34.2M

$22.8K MX$393.8K

12.99%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$18.2K ₦24.1M

$26.8K MX$461.2K

-32.03%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$111 ₦146.7K

$65.2 MX$1,124

69.87%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.61 ₦8,758

$30.09 MX$519

-78.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.79 ₦38.2K

$37.18 MX$641

-22.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$36.48 ₦48.3K

$59.8 MX$1,030

-38.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.07 ₦14.7K

$26.55 MX$458

-58.31%

Cinema Ticket

$4.98 ₦6,603

$7.04 MX$121

-29.26%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$44.89 ₦59.5K

$465 MX$8,012

-90.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,151 ₦4.2M

$13.3K MX$228.9K

-76.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$25.50 ₦33.8K

$75.9 MX$1,308

-66.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.6 ₦80.3K

$56.0 MX$965

8.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.5 ₦102.7K

$112 MX$1,929

-30.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 ₦140.2K

$121 MX$2,078

-12.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,391 ₦1.8M

$1,103 MX$19.0K

26.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$455 ₦603.4K

$721 MX$12.4K

-36.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,403 ₦4.5M

$2,530 MX$43.6K

34.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,533 ₦2.0M

$1,293 MX$22.3K

18.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$701 ₦928.4K

$3,991 MX$68.8K

-82.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$380 ₦504.1K

$2,090 MX$36.0K

-81.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 ₦218.4K

$1,037 MX$17.9K

-84.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

22.5

11.3

99.12%

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

Last update for Abuja: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,391 in Abuja and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 530% 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: $30.00 in Abuja vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $345 per month, with Abuja 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

Abuja vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Abuja and Mexico City differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($1,121 vs $1,660 including rent). Abuja is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 530% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,391 in Abuja versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,121 per month in Abuja versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Abuja runs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,121 in Abuja versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Abuja but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Abuja the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Abuja gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.