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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $528 per month in Jos vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,094 per month in Jos vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,660 per month in Jos vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Jos is about 69% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Jos sits 62% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14 ₦2,835
$12.14 MX$206
-82.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.30 ₦38.8K
$53.9 MX$916
-45.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.60 ₦6,094
$11.09 MX$188
-58.52%
Cappuccino
$3.40 ₦4,508
$4.10 MX$69.6
-17.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 ₦730
$1.68 MX$28.57
-67.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ₦928
$1.39 MX$23.58
-49.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ₦1,421
$3.33 MX$56.6
-67.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 ₦2,779
$5.88 MX$99.9
-64.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.63 ₦4,811
$1.85 MX$31.45
96.22%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 ₦1,128
$3.17 MX$53.9
-73.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.25 ₦2,979
$2.07 MX$35.18
8.70%
Eggs
$1.86 ₦2,461
$2.93 MX$49.74
-36.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.99 ₦13.2K
$12.59 MX$214
-20.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.12 ₦6,780
$10.11 MX$172
-49.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$4.02 ₦5,324
$16.09 MX$273
-75.02%
Apples (1kg)
$1.98 ₦2,622
$3.39 MX$57.6
-41.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 ₦1,975
$2.08 MX$35.31
-28.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.53 ₦2,026
$2.12 MX$36.02
-27.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.29 ₦3,028
$2.41 MX$41.01
-4.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.80 ₦2,381
$2.13 MX$36.17
-15.49%
Onion (1kg)
$2.43 ₦3,222
$2.01 MX$34.07
20.90%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.58 ₦769
$1.55 MX$26.25
-62.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 ₦488
$1.36 MX$23.19
-72.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 ₦2,697
$5.77 MX$98.0
-64.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.77 ₦7,642
$17.74 MX$301
-67.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₦1,632
$2.07 MX$35.16
-40.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 ₦2,378
$4.61 MX$78.4
-61.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.37 MX$6.21
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$21.18 MX$360
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 ₦774
$2.05 MX$34.89
-71.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 ₦1,054
$0.58 MX$9.80
37.93%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.83 ₦2,427
$6.07 MX$103
-69.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 ₦768
$1.55 MX$26.38
-62.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5K ₦35.1M
$22.9K MX$388.6K
15.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.3K ₦24.3M
$27.2K MX$462.7K
-32.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$101 ₦134.5K
$67.4 MX$1,145
50.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.36 ₦8,428
$30.62 MX$520
-79.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.56 ₦37.9K
$37.24 MX$633
-23.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.25 ₦52.0K
$61.5 MX$1,044
-36.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.21 ₦16.2K
$27.12 MX$461
-54.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.92 ₦6,523
$7.11 MX$121
-30.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$44.31 ₦58.7K
$456 MX$7,750
-90.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,017 ₦1.3M
$13.7K MX$232.6K
-92.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.88 ₦13.1K
$74.2 MX$1,260
-86.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.03 ₦19.9K
$57.0 MX$969
-73.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$50.9 ₦67.4K
$115 MX$1,961
-55.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.03 ₦65.0K
$122 MX$2,064
-59.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,148 MX$19.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$709 MX$12.1K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$549 ₦727.6K
$2,577 MX$43.8K
-78.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$488 ₦646.9K
$1,295 MX$22.0K
-62.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,040 ₦2.7M
$4,005 MX$68.0K
-49.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,481 ₦2.0M
$2,130 MX$36.2K
-30.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jos
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$100 ₦132.6K
$1,082 MX$18.4K
-90.75%
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 Jos: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 981% 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 $29.00 in Jos versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $345 – making Jos 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
Jos vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Jos and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $528 in Jos, $1,677 in Mexico City – roughly 218% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Jos compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $792 per month in Jos and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Jos 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 69% 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 Jos, where all-in costs run around $528, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Jos 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 Jos and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $528 in Jos to $1,677 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Jos and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Jos. 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.

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