🙂A single person spends $636 per month in Laayoune vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,031 per month in Laayoune vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,426 per month in Laayoune vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Laayoune is about 57% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Laayoune sits 53% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.76MAD 34.57
$13.18MX$228
-71.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.45MAD 271
$53.9MX$932
-45.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.61MAD 42.36
$9.42MX$163
-51.06%
Cappuccino
$1.63MAD 14.96
$3.55MX$61.4
-54.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51MAD 4.69
$1.62MX$27.98
-68.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.15
$1.11MX$19.27
-69.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.49MAD 32.08
$3.12MX$54.0
11.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.70MAD 43.20
$4.63MX$80.1
1.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85MAD 7.78
$1.70MX$29.43
-50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.59MAD 5.46
$2.72MX$47.02
-78.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81MAD 16.66
$1.91MX$33.07
-5.24%
Eggs
$1.38MAD 12.64
$2.54MX$43.86
-45.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.63MAD 107
$10.03MX$174
15.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.40MAD 31.24
$8.09MX$140
-57.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34MAD 85.8
$11.62MX$201
-19.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52MAD 14.01
$2.97MX$51.3
-48.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14MAD 10.45
$1.81MX$31.24
-37.02%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.09
$2.01MX$34.82
-67.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57MAD 5.23
$2.03MX$35.20
-71.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44MAD 4.08
$2.12MX$36.75
-79.25%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36MAD 3.35
$2.27MX$39.25
-84.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95MAD 8.78
$1.40MX$24.22
-32.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MAD 5.13
$1.13MX$19.55
-50.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27MX$73.9
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45MAD 31.68
$3.60MX$62.2
-4.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.61MAD 5.59
$0.38MX$6.62
60.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.46MAD 105
$19.18MX$332
-40.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72MAD 6.63
$1.38MX$23.79
-47.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69MAD 6.32
$0.28MX$4.78
146.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.45MX$94.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24MAD 11.42
$1.30MX$22.55
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.8KMAD 366.2K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
113.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMAD 242.4K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
14.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$32.74MAD 301
$40.86MX$707
-19.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.81MX$464
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.73MAD 209
$29.96MX$518
-24.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.36MAD 215
$52.0MX$900
-55.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.91MAD 321
$26.84MX$464
30.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41MAD 31.35
$6.30MX$109
-45.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286MAD 2,627
$436MX$7,544
-34.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,469MAD 31.9K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-66.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.51MAD 317
$56.7MX$980
-39.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.7MAD 531
$44.38MX$768
30.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1MAD 681
$103MX$1,780
-28.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.8MAD 743
$106MX$1,825
-23.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354MAD 3,251
$1,022MX$17.7K
-65.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MAD 1,603
$631MX$10.9K
-72.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$691MAD 6,348
$2,136MX$36.9K
-67.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292MAD 2,687
$1,243MX$21.5K
-76.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Laayoune
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Laayoune: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Laayoune versus $1,022 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Laayoune versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $146 vs $288 – making Laayoune 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
Laayoune vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Laayoune?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 131%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $954 per month in Laayoune and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Laayoune, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Laayoune and Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 97% 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Laayoune or Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Laayoune and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Laayoune or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Laayoune, where all-in costs run around $636, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Laayoune it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Laayoune or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Laayoune – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Laayoune or Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Laayoune. 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.