🙂A single person spends $1,009 per month in Adama vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,695 per month in Adama vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,381 per month in Adama vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Adama is about 40% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Adama sits 27% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.02ETB 486
$12.14MX$206
-75.12%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.82ETB 6,722
$53.9MX$914
-22.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.07ETB 815
$11.09MX$188
-54.28%
Cappuccino
$0.90ETB 145
$4.10MX$69.5
-78.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58ETB 93.2
$1.68MX$28.53
-65.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29ETB 46.06
$1.39MX$23.55
-79.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.78ETB 125
$3.33MX$56.5
-76.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27ETB 365
$5.88MX$99.7
-61.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82ETB 132
$1.85MX$31.41
-55.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22ETB 197
$3.17MX$53.8
-61.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.19ETB 351
$2.07MX$35.13
5.80%
Eggs
$1.79ETB 288
$2.93MX$49.67
-38.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.53ETB 1,211
$12.59MX$214
-40.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24ETB 1,646
$10.11MX$172
1.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34ETB 1,502
$16.09MX$273
-41.95%
Apples(1kg)
$5.49ETB 882
$3.39MX$57.5
61.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.68ETB 109
$2.08MX$35.26
-67.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24ETB 360
$2.12MX$35.97
5.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71ETB 114
$2.41MX$40.95
-70.54%
Potato(1kg)
$0.46ETB 73.6
$2.13MX$36.11
-78.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09ETB 175
$2.01MX$34.02
-45.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69ETB 110
$1.55MX$26.21
-55.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57ETB 92.1
$1.36MX$23.15
-58.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.05ETB 1,294
$5.77MX$97.8
39.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.73ETB 921
$17.74MX$301
-67.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.70ETB 113
$2.07MX$35.11
-66.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26ETB 203
$4.61MX$78.3
-72.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.37MX$6.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.18MX$359
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.29ETB 208
$2.05MX$34.84
-37.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27ETB 43.18
$0.58MX$9.79
-53.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.94ETB 312
$6.07MX$103
-68.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94ETB 151
$1.55MX$26.34
-39.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.0KETB 8.7M
$22.9KMX$388.1K
136.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$54.7KETB 8.8M
$27.2KMX$462.0K
100.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$203ETB 32.6K
$67.4MX$1,144
201.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.20ETB 1,158
$30.62MX$520
-76.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$212ETB 34.0K
$37.24MX$632
468.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.5MX$1,043
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.12MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.70ETB 595
$7.11MX$121
-47.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$138ETB 22.2K
$456MX$7,739
-69.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$30.8KETB 4.9M
$13.7KMX$232.3K
124.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.04ETB 5,312
$74.2MX$1,259
-55.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.0ETB 11.4K
$57.0MX$967
24.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.8ETB 12.7K
$115MX$1,958
-31.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9ETB 13.3K
$122MX$2,061
-31.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350ETB 56.3K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-69.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$202ETB 32.4K
$709MX$12.0K
-71.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985ETB 158.4K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-61.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$785ETB 126.2K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-39.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$4,005MX$67.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Adama
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$102ETB 16.3K
$1,082MX$18.4K
-90.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
18.5
11.3
63.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Adama: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $350 in Adama versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 965% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Adama versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $345 – making Adama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Adama vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Adama and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,009 in Adama, $1,677 in Mexico City – roughly 66% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Adama compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,513 per month in Adama and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Adama and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Adama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $42.00 in Adama and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Adama, where all-in costs run around $1,009, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Adama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Adama and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,009 in Adama to $1,677 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Adama and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Adama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.