🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Meknes versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $980 in Meknes versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,293 in Meknes versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Meknes costs roughly 54% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Meknes is 50% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.16MAD 19.95
$12.98MX$223
-83.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.73MAD 118
$52.6MX$903
-75.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.40MAD 49.94
$9.43MX$162
-42.74%
Cappuccino
$1.33MAD 12.28
$3.57MX$61.3
-62.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69MAD 6.42
$1.61MX$27.55
-57.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44MAD 4.07
$1.15MX$19.81
-61.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26MAD 30.17
$3.15MX$54.0
3.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.13MAD 38.25
$4.86MX$83.4
-15.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.86MAD 7.95
$1.70MX$29.17
-49.41%
White Bread(500g)
$0.32MAD 2.93
$2.64MX$45.23
-87.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.25MAD 11.54
$1.90MX$32.67
-34.21%
Eggs
$1.99MAD 18.45
$2.54MX$43.62
-21.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.90MAD 101
$10.08MX$173
8.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.49MAD 41.52
$8.29MX$142
-45.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.20MAD 85.1
$11.57MX$199
-20.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.33MAD 12.35
$3.03MX$52.0
-56.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.47
$1.71MX$29.35
-27.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92MAD 8.55
$2.05MX$35.16
-55.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.67
$2.06MX$35.36
-65.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.70
$2.06MX$35.43
-65.05%
Onion(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.86
$2.17MX$37.25
-65.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.91
$1.40MX$24.08
-70.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.45
$1.12MX$19.26
-47.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MAD 40.55
$4.29MX$73.7
2.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.51MAD 106
$15.41MX$265
-25.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.85MAD 26.38
$1.67MX$28.74
70.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77MAD 25.65
$3.69MX$63.3
-24.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42MAD 3.92
$0.38MX$6.55
10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.56MAD 153
$19.06MX$327
-13.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.39MAD 3.61
$1.38MX$23.70
-71.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.40
$0.28MX$4.74
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.27MAD 39.53
$5.42MX$92.9
-21.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.48MAD 13.74
$1.28MX$21.98
15.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KMAD 348.6K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
98.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3KMAD 262.2K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
20.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.11MAD 343
$41.02MX$704
-9.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.79MAD 99.8
$26.92MX$462
-59.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.11MAD 306
$29.69MX$510
11.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.20MAD 224
$52.3MX$898
-53.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.26MAD 178
$26.23MX$450
-26.57%
Cinema Ticket
$4.40MAD 40.70
$6.18MX$106
-28.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$151MAD 1,399
$427MX$7,331
-64.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,629MAD 15.1K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-84.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.80MAD 414
$56.8MX$975
-21.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23MAD 372
$44.83MX$769
-10.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.6MAD 532
$105MX$1,794
-44.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$55.0MAD 508
$106MX$1,819
-48.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$271MAD 2,507
$995MX$17.1K
-72.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,620
$621MX$10.7K
-71.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$423MAD 3,916
$2,126MX$36.5K
-80.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$286MAD 2,645
$1,254MX$21.5K
-77.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$934MAD 8,638
$3,903MX$67.0K
-76.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633MAD 5,858
$2,096MX$36.0K
-69.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Meknes
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$506MAD 4,679
$1,107MX$19.0K
-54.32%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
11.34
-60.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Meknes: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $271 in Meknes and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 119% 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: $13.00 in Meknes vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $288 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 117% 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 Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 119% less. 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 vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $271 in Meknes versus $995 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 vs Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $53.0 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 $666 per month in Meknes versus $1,447 in Mexico City – a 117% 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 Mexico City?
At $666 in Meknes versus $1,447 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 $666 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 117% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.