😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $736 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,155 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,574 in Abomey-Calavi, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 98% more than Abomey-Calavi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Abomey-Calavi is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$5.60F CFA 3,213
133.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$26.41F CFA 15.1K
103.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$8.34F CFA 4,782
16.07%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$4.77F CFA 2,737
-21.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$1.18F CFA 676
37.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$1.78F CFA 1,018
-34.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.78F CFA 1,023
81.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$5.18F CFA 2,973
-8.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$2.23F CFA 1,280
-26.01%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.27F CFA 155
918.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$2.06F CFA 1,179
-9.22%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.98F CFA 1,135
26.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$3.51F CFA 2,015
190.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$3.91F CFA 2,244
111.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$6.35F CFA 3,639
86.14%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.28F CFA 1,305
32.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$0.84F CFA 481
115.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$0.69F CFA 395
189.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$2.17F CFA 1,243
-7.83%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.01F CFA 579
105.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.82F CFA 472
176.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.70F CFA 399
108.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.84F CFA 483
28.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$0.42F CFA 242
935.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$10.65F CFA 6,106
59.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$0.94F CFA 539
84.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$1.17F CFA 669
205.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$7.61F CFA 4,365
145.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$1.72F CFA 987
-22.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.56F CFA 894
-82.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.25F CFA 715
7.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$125F CFA 71.7K
-67.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$20.40F CFA 11.7K
31.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$88.3F CFA 50.6K
-65.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$34.66F CFA 19.9K
52.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$5.33F CFA 3,056
400.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$6.33F CFA 3,631
2.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$17.87F CFA 10.2K
220.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$8.89F CFA 5,097
411.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$26.23F CFA 15.0K
296.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$26.74F CFA 15.3K
303.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$102F CFA 58.6K
882.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$73.8F CFA 42.3K
743.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$221F CFA 127.0K
852.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$279F CFA 160.2K
335.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Abomey-Calavi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$85.9F CFA 49.3K
1107.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Abomey-Calavi: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $102 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 1108% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $166 – making Abomey-Calavi 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
Mexico City vs Abomey-Calavi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Abomey-Calavi cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 98%, 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,104 in Abomey-Calavi. 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 Abomey-Calavi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Abomey-Calavi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $736 in Abomey-Calavi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Abomey-Calavi?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $26.00 in Abomey-Calavi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Abomey-Calavi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abomey-Calavi, where all-in costs run around $736, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Abomey-Calavi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Abomey-Calavi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Abomey-Calavi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Abomey-Calavi. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared