🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Meknes versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Meknes versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Meknes versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Meknes costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Meknes is 47% below, Mexico City is 21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25MAD 30.81
$11.92MX$206
-72.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.66MAD 149
$51.6MX$890
-69.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.38MAD 60.6
$11.41MX$197
-44.08%
Cappuccino
$1.25MAD 11.89
$3.99MX$68.9
-68.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MAD 8.62
$1.66MX$28.61
-45.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42MAD 4.00
$1.33MX$22.87
-68.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.10MAD 29.36
$3.47MX$59.9
-10.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MAD 34.89
$5.90MX$102
-37.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.97
$1.88MX$32.36
-55.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.40MAD 3.77
$3.25MX$56.1
-87.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.26MAD 11.90
$2.16MX$37.26
-41.67%
Eggs
$1.86MAD 17.68
$2.90MX$49.94
-35.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.28MAD 145
$12.86MX$222
18.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.29MAD 50.2
$10.05MX$173
-47.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.69MAD 91.9
$15.86MX$273
-38.90%
Apples(1kg)
$1.31MAD 12.40
$3.29MX$56.8
-60.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23MAD 11.68
$2.01MX$34.60
-38.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.33
$2.20MX$37.93
-69.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60MAD 5.66
$2.36MX$40.63
-74.58%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.32
$2.05MX$35.43
-72.68%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.59
$1.90MX$32.79
-57.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47MAD 4.50
$1.61MX$27.68
-70.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58MAD 5.53
$1.40MX$24.09
-58.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.14MAD 39.30
$5.46MX$94.2
-24.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.87MAD 103
$17.65MX$304
-38.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.33MAD 31.59
$2.06MX$35.44
61.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66MAD 25.21
$4.68MX$80.8
-43.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MAD 4.13
$0.34MX$5.84
26.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.13MAD 153
$20.81MX$359
-22.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.91
$2.10MX$36.15
-65.24%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MAD 5.15
$0.56MX$9.64
-3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.81MX$100
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43MAD 13.55
$1.61MX$27.68
-11.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KMAD 330.4K
$22.8KMX$393.8K
52.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.2KMAD 296.0K
$26.8KMX$461.2K
16.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$31.36MAD 297
$65.2MX$1,124
-51.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.65MAD 91.5
$30.09MX$519
-67.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.69MAD 329
$37.18MX$641
-6.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.45MAD 279
$59.8MX$1,030
-50.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.01MAD 323
$26.55MX$458
28.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.15MAD 39.35
$7.04MX$121
-41.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$127MAD 1,201
$465MX$8,012
-72.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$13.3KMX$228.9K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.2MAD 637
$75.9MX$1,308
-11.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.3MAD 609
$56.0MX$965
14.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MAD 982
$112MX$1,929
-7.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3MAD 638
$121MX$2,078
-44.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276MAD 2,616
$1,103MX$19.0K
-74.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177MAD 1,676
$721MX$12.4K
-75.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473MAD 4,490
$2,530MX$43.6K
-81.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295MAD 2,794
$1,293MX$22.3K
-77.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$982MAD 9,308
$3,991MX$68.8K
-75.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$631MAD 5,988
$2,090MX$36.0K
-69.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$479MAD 4,543
$1,037MX$17.9K
-53.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
11.3
-60.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Meknes and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 117% 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: $16.00 in Meknes vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $345 per month, with Meknes 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
Meknes vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Meknes or Mexico City?
Meknes wins on cost – living expenses run 127% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Meknes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Meknes or in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 117% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Meknes compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $276 in Meknes versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Meknes and in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Meknes compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Meknes versus $1,660 in Mexico City – a 127% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Meknes or in Mexico City?
At $731 in Meknes versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Meknes but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Meknes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Meknes or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Meknes delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $731 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Meknes hard to pass up.
How safe is Meknes compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Meknes and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Meknes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 127% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.