Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bahir Dar

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahir Dar: $374 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $14,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Bahir Dar
🇪🇹 Ethiopia
$374
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Bahir Dar

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Bahir Dar actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Mexico City vs $374 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Bahir Dar $374

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Mexico City vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Bahir Dar $568

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Mexico City vs $763 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Bahir Dar $763

Mexico City costs about 330% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mexico City sits 18% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$3.43 ETB 553
209.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.7
$1.02 ETB 164
261.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.05
$0.41 ETB 66.7
307.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.58
$0.48 ETB 78.0
164.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$0.72 ETB 116
343.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$1.96 ETB 315
170.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.13
$0.98 ETB 157
75.51%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.6
$1.02 ETB 164
198.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.17
$1.01 ETB 163
92.08%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$1.77 ETB 285
63.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$204
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$10.06 ETB 1,620
50.40%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$3.04 ETB 489
0.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.17
$0.97 ETB 157
100.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.73
$2.03 ETB 327
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.12
$0.79 ETB 127
192.41%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.91
$0.62 ETB 99.7
229.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.53
$1.18 ETB 191
52.54%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.56
$1.02 ETB 164
45.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.62
$0.51 ETB 82.9
149.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.8
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$4.03 ETB 650
299.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.95
$0.77 ETB 125
157.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.2
$1.94 ETB 313
119.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.68
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.23
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$0.48 ETB 77.3
10.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$1.97 ETB 316
169.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.14
$1.02 ETB 164
48.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.3K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$446.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,173
$101 ETB 16.2K
-37.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$510
$10.15 ETB 1,635
169.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$664
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,098
$50.9 ETB 8,189
15.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
$60.5 ETB 9,734
-60.90%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$6.10 ETB 982
4.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,041
$49.48 ETB 7,967
772.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,271
$49.10 ETB 7,905
38.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,008
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,185
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.7K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.6K
$2,039 ETB 328.3K
78.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$1,502 ETB 241.8K
42.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bahir Dar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$200 ETB 32.2K
373.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
0
-

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Bahir Dar
–
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Bahir Dar
–
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Bahir Dar
–
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Bahir Dar
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Bahir Dar
–
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Bahir Dar
–
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Bahir Dar
–

Cost Breakdown

Salaries in Mexico City are about 4.7 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇪🇹 Bahir Dar
🕒 Local time
22:27 10:27 PM
07:27 7:27 AM
9 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
350,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ETB, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 18.63 MXN (100 MXN = 5.37 USD). 1 EUR = 20.74 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Ethiopian Birr exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 161 ETB (1,000 ETB = 6.21 USD). 1 EUR = 179 ETB (1,000 ETB = 5.58 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Bahir Dar 14,130 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Bahir Dar

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bahir Dar?
Mexico City costs about 330% more than Bahir Dar, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Bahir Dar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Mexico City and $561 in Bahir Dar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Bahir Dar?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $374 in Bahir Dar. That makes Bahir Dar about 77% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Bahir Dar?
Groceries cost about 156% more in Mexico City, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Mexico City or in Bahir Dar?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Bahir Dar, where all-in costs run around $374, than in Mexico City at $1,608. In Bahir Dar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mexico City or Bahir Dar?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $374 in Bahir Dar to $1,608 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Bahir Dar?
If budget matters most, go with Bahir Dar. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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