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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $411 in Aba, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $662 in Aba, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $912 in Aba, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 307% more than Aba, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Aba is 70% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$7.68 ₦10.2K

44.40%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$0.87 ₦1,159

371.26%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$2.07 ₦2,740

60.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$2.40 ₦3,187

145.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$3.80 ₦5,035

-51.32%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$2.22 ₦2,941

42.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$11.55 ₦15.3K

9.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$1.34 ₦1,771

1100.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$5.43 ₦7,199

-37.57%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$0.56 ₦738

271.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$3.54 ₦4,696

-39.83%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$1.13 ₦1,492

37.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$0.15 ₦204

806.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$1.55 ₦2,060

272.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$7.27 ₦9,630

144.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.28 ₦1,691

61.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$1.40 ₦1,861

229.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

$9.35 ₦12.4K

126.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$6,033 ₦8.0M

279.17%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$7,467 ₦9.9M

264.70%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$117 ₦154.5K

-42.16%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$2.22 ₦2,944

1279.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$45.54 ₦60.4K

-18.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$2.13 ₦2,827

233.80%

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

$456 MX$7,739

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$1,073 ₦1.4M

1176.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$15.33 ₦20.3K

652.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$18.73 ₦24.8K

548.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$138 ₦183.5K

728.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$456 ₦603.8K

465.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$226 ₦299.0K

473.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$1,077 ₦1.4M

271.90%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

$474 ₦628.6K

348.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$99.0 ₦131.2K

993.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

-5.83%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Aba: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $138 in Aba. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 993% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

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

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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 307%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $617 in Aba. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Aba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 103% 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.

Public transport costs about 127% less in Aba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aba, where all-in costs run around $411, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Aba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Aba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Aba. 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.