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 $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $373 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $568 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $764 in Bahir Dar, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 295% more than Bahir Dar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Bahir Dar is 72% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

$3.40 ETB 543

286.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

$0.98 ETB 157

277.55%

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

$0.41 ETB 65.8

290.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

$0.52 ETB 83.7

115.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$0.74 ETB 117

324.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

$1.99 ETB 317

143.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$0.98 ETB 157

68.37%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

$0.99 ETB 158

173.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

$1.02 ETB 163

87.25%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$1.77 ETB 282

46.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

$10.14 ETB 1,619

17.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

$2.97 ETB 474

-0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

$1.01 ETB 162

72.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

$2.04 ETB 326

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

$0.78 ETB 125

164.10%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

$0.62 ETB 99.6

246.77%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

$1.17 ETB 187

93.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

$1.01 ETB 161

37.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

$0.48 ETB 76.9

133.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

$4.07 ETB 649

330.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

$0.84 ETB 133

103.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

$1.99 ETB 317

82.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

$0.48 ETB 76.7

-41.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

$1.97 ETB 315

168.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

$1.03 ETB 164

32.04%

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

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

$40.53 MX$707

$101 ETB 16.1K

-59.90%

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

$27.38 MX$478

$9.95 ETB 1,590

175.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

$50.9 ETB 8,133

2.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

$61.1 ETB 9,754

-56.65%

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

$6.14 ETB 980

0.81%

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

$425 MX$7,414

$50.4 ETB 8,047

743.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

$49.40 ETB 7,889

18.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

$2,008 ETB 320.7K

88.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

$1,489 ETB 237.8K

41.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

$198 ETB 31.6K

432.23%

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Bahir Dar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 432% 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 295% 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $559 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 $1,472 in Mexico City and $373 in Bahir Dar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 136% 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 $373, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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 $373 versus $1,472 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.