Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bahir Dar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bahir Dar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $377 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $576 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $775 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 345% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$3.56 ETB 572

241.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$0.99 ETB 159

314.14%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$0.41 ETB 66.0

309.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$0.51 ETB 82.5

172.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$0.78 ETB 125

326.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$1.98 ETB 318

196.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$0.98 ETB 157

88.78%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$0.98 ETB 158

223.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$1.02 ETB 165

102.94%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$1.71 ETB 275

71.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$9.93 ETB 1,597

62.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$2.98 ETB 478

13.76%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.01 ETB 163

105.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$2.05 ETB 330

3.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$0.84 ETB 134

186.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$0.63 ETB 102

238.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$1.13 ETB 182

77.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$0.97 ETB 156

59.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$0.48 ETB 77.1

183.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$4.05 ETB 651

338.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$0.77 ETB 124

168.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$1.95 ETB 313

136.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$0.48 ETB 77.5

20.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$1.94 ETB 312

212.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$0.98 ETB 158

58.16%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$101 ETB 16.3K

-33.33%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$10.16 ETB 1,633

201.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$49.38 ETB 7,939

24.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

$59.7 ETB 9,590

-54.54%

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$6.12 ETB 984

16.18%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$49.38 ETB 7,938

823.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$49.86 ETB 8,015

48.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$2,034 ETB 326.9K

96.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

$1,509 ETB 242.5K

41.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$202 ETB 32.5K

435.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 436% 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 Bahir Dar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 345% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $565 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,677 in Mexico City and $377 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 180% 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.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $377, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bahir Dar costs $377 versus $1,677 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. 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.