😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,029 in Djibouti versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,289 in Djibouti versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,549 in Djibouti versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Djibouti is roughly 39% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Djibouti52% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.94DJF 1,768
$13.07MX$229
-23.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1DJF 14.4K
$53.8MX$943
50.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.72DJF 2,262
$9.68MX$170
31.40%
Cappuccino
$3.59DJF 639
$3.74MX$65.6
-4.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86DJF 330
$1.62MX$28.34
14.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86DJF 331
$1.16MX$20.37
60.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.80DJF 1,031
$3.23MX$56.6
79.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.30DJF 1,477
$4.74MX$83.1
75.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.49DJF 443
$1.65MX$28.89
50.91%
White Bread(500g)
$9.28DJF 1,650
$2.75MX$48.30
237.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.75DJF 667
$1.87MX$32.87
100.53%
Eggs
$6.75DJF 1,200
$2.50MX$43.86
170.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.45DJF 1,681
$10.20MX$179
-7.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$18.52DJF 3,294
$8.25MX$145
124.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.15DJF 2,161
$11.82MX$207
2.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82DJF 680
$3.01MX$52.8
26.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20DJF 214
$1.81MX$31.77
-33.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.79DJF 497
$2.00MX$35.07
39.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58DJF 282
$2.00MX$35.00
-21.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19DJF 212
$2.08MX$36.56
-42.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.34DJF 239
$2.27MX$39.85
-40.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$5.58DJF 993
$1.46MX$25.55
282.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58DJF 103
$1.08MX$18.88
-46.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.75DJF 489
$4.35MX$76.3
-36.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.35DJF 3,798
$16.99MX$298
25.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39DJF 425
$1.73MX$30.40
38.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56DJF 633
$3.58MX$62.7
-0.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27DJF 47.86
$0.39MX$6.79
-30.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.35DJF 3,797
$18.69MX$328
14.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85DJF 506
$1.33MX$23.25
114.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$5.63DJF 1,001
$0.28MX$4.91
1910.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$28.45DJF 5,060
$5.25MX$92.1
441.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.74DJF 309
$1.34MX$23.44
29.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KDJF 6.1M
$19.4KMX$340.5K
76.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KDJF 5.9M
$23.8KMX$418.0K
40.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$530DJF 94.3K
$40.69MX$714
1202.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.27DJF 5,562
$26.87MX$471
16.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.7DJF 10.6K
$30.51MX$535
95.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$86.9DJF 15.5K
$52.8MX$926
64.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.66DJF 4,209
$26.65MX$467
-11.22%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24DJF 1,466
$6.51MX$114
26.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$331DJF 58.9K
$428MX$7,508
-22.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,861DJF 1.6M
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-15.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62DJF 7,403
$57.3MX$1,004
-27.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.38DJF 3,448
$45.50MX$798
-57.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$124DJF 22.1K
$104MX$1,825
19.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.9DJF 9,947
$108MX$1,891
-48.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,439DJF 256.0K
$1,003MX$17.6K
43.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$474DJF 84.3K
$623MX$10.9K
-23.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$989DJF 175.9K
$2,109MX$37.0K
-53.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,512DJF 269.0K
$1,218MX$21.4K
24.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.8KDJF 2.3M
$3,885MX$68.1K
228.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$6,197DJF 1.1M
$2,033MX$35.7K
204.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Djibouti
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,881DJF 512.4K
$1,038MX$18.2K
177.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.6
11.34
-15.34%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Djibouti: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,439 in Djibouti and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Djibouti pays 178% 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: $81.0 in Djibouti vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $460 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City 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
Djibouti vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Djibouti or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 39% lower than in Djibouti. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Djibouti or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 178% higher in Djibouti, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Djibouti compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,439 in Djibouti versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Djibouti compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 14% less than in Djibouti. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Djibouti and in Mexico City?
Childcare runs $331 in Djibouti versus $428 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Djibouti or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,029 in Djibouti, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Djibouti. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Djibouti or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Djibouti. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.