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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $817 per month in Calabar vs $1,561 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,137 per month in Calabar vs $2,440 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,456 per month in Calabar vs $3,319 in Mexico City, rent included.

Calabar is about 48% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Calabar sits 39% below the global median, while Mexico City is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.13 ₦1,493

$11.12 MX$200

-89.84%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.99 MX$880

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.23 MX$202

Cappuccino

$3.76 MX$67.5

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

$0.37 ₦484

$1.65 MX$29.69

-77.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 ₦245

$1.28 MX$22.98

-85.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.94 ₦1,240

$3.26 MX$58.5

-71.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.24 ₦1,636

$5.66 MX$102

-78.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MX$32.52

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 ₦1,756

$2.94 MX$52.8

-54.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 ₦2,043

$2.05 MX$36.82

-24.88%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$52.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 MX$215

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.51 MX$171

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 MX$267

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 MX$56.5

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$36.20

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$37.29

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 MX$39.86

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$37.01

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 MX$33.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 MX$26.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦626

$1.35 MX$24.17

-65.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 MX$97.2

Wine (Bottle)

$4.57 ₦6,048

$16.86 MX$303

-72.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 ₦1,494

$1.98 MX$35.66

-42.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 ₦1,977

$4.32 MX$77.7

-65.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$6.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.23 MX$363

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$37.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MX$9.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 MX$97.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MX$27.31

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

$21.7K MX$390.5K

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

$24.8K MX$445.9K

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

$63.0 MX$1,132

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

$28.88 MX$519

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 MX$610

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 MX$1,002

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.90 MX$447

Cinema Ticket

$6.77 MX$122

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

$428 MX$7,687

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K MX$213.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 MX$1,258

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 MX$966

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MX$1,973

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MX$2,070

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,114 ₦1.5M

$1,062 MX$19.1K

4.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$754 ₦998.3K

$671 MX$12.1K

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,898 ₦2.5M

$2,379 MX$42.8K

-20.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,367 ₦1.8M

$1,260 MX$22.6K

8.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,716 MX$66.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 MX$35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$997 MX$17.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,114 in Calabar versus $1,062 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.

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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $817 in Calabar, $1,561 in Mexico City – roughly 91% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,226 per month in Calabar and $2,341 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $817 in Calabar and $1,561 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 663% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Mexico City at $1,561. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $1,561 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Calabar. 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.