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 $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $368 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $566 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $765 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 304% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 73% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

$3.46 ETB 541

275.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

$1.02 ETB 159

267.65%

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

$1.57 MX$27.46

$0.41 ETB 64.4

282.93%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

$0.52 ETB 80.7

117.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$0.78 ETB 122

307.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

$2.01 ETB 315

131.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$0.98 ETB 153

65.31%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$0.97 ETB 152

179.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$0.99 ETB 154

89.90%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$1.78 ETB 279

41.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$10.11 ETB 1,580

18.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$3.06 ETB 478

-6.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$0.99 ETB 154

76.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$2.03 ETB 318

2.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$0.79 ETB 123

149.37%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$0.66 ETB 104

227.27%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$1.18 ETB 184

84.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$0.97 ETB 152

43.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.52 ETB 80.8

115.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$4.01 ETB 627

255.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$0.82 ETB 128

114.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$2.06 ETB 322

78.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

$0.51 ETB 80.3

-41.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

$2.04 ETB 318

165.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

$1.01 ETB 158

33.66%

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

$18.9K MX$330.5K

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

$23.2K MX$405.2K

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

$40.82 MX$714

$99.3 ETB 15.5K

-58.88%

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

$27.50 MX$481

$10.15 ETB 1,587

170.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$49.85 ETB 7,792

7.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

$58.9 ETB 9,205

-55.35%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

$6.06 ETB 947

3.47%

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

$436 MX$7,632

$50.2 ETB 7,845

768.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

$49.56 ETB 7,746

14.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

$1,988 ETB 310.7K

94.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

$1,511 ETB 236.2K

54.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

$199 ETB 31.2K

435.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 435% 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 304% more than Bahir Dar, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $551 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 $1,484 in Mexico City and $368 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 129% 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 $368, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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 $368 versus $1,484 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.