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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $546 in Kano versus $1,447 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $872 in Kano versus $2,310 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,198 in Kano versus $3,174 in Mexico City.

Living in Kano costs roughly 62% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kano is 59% below, Mexico City is 8% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.51 ₦4,772

$12.98 MX$224

-72.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.25 ₦13.9K

$52.6 MX$909

-80.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.42 ₦7,373

$9.43 MX$163

-42.52%

Cappuccino

$4.77 ₦6,486

$3.57 MX$61.7

33.61%

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

$0.40 ₦549

$1.61 MX$27.75

-75.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 ₦480

$1.15 MX$19.95

-69.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.85 ₦1,149

$3.15 MX$54.4

-73.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₦1,124

$4.86 MX$84.0

-82.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.55 ₦4,824

$1.70 MX$29.38

108.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.85 ₦2,520

$2.64 MX$45.55

-29.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 ₦3,116

$1.90 MX$32.90

20.53%

Eggs

$2.12 ₦2,879

$2.54 MX$43.93

-16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$143

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$200

Apples (1kg)

$6.96 ₦9,466

$3.03 MX$52.3

129.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 ₦2,208

$1.71 MX$29.56

-5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 ₦1,572

$2.05 MX$35.41

-43.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.15 ₦1,559

$2.06 MX$35.61

-44.17%

Potato (1kg)

$2.41 ₦3,283

$2.06 MX$35.68

16.99%

Onion (1kg)

$3.48 ₦4,732

$2.17 MX$37.51

60.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.34 ₦458

$1.40 MX$24.25

-75.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 ₦683

$1.12 MX$19.39

-55.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$74.2

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$266

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.95

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.88 ₦1,203

$3.69 MX$63.7

-76.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 ₦1,115

$0.38 MX$6.60

115.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.79 ₦48.7K

$19.06 MX$329

87.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.86

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$93.6

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.42 ₦567

$1.28 MX$22.13

-67.19%

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

$19.0K MX$328.1K

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

$23.5K MX$405.5K

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

$12.08 ₦16.4K

$41.02 MX$709

-70.55%

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

$26.92 MX$465

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.66 ₦26.7K

$29.69 MX$513

-33.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.56 ₦47.0K

$52.3 MX$905

-33.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$453

Cinema Ticket

$4.83 ₦6,567

$6.18 MX$107

-21.84%

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

$35.91 ₦48.8K

$427 MX$7,382

-91.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$184.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$982

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$775

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,807

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,831

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$478 ₦649.7K

$995 MX$17.2K

-51.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$175 ₦237.9K

$621 MX$10.7K

-71.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 ₦1.6M

$2,126 MX$36.7K

-44.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 ₦471.9K

$1,254 MX$21.7K

-72.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.1K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Kano: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $478 in Kano and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $10.00 in Kano vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $150 vs $288 per month, with Kano 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

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

Kano and Mexico City differ by about 165% in total monthly costs ($546 vs $1,447 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $819 in Kano and $2,171 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $478 in Kano versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $546 per month in Kano versus $1,447 in Mexico City – a 165% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 88% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $546 in Kano versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kano 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 Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 165% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.