Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Banjul

For one person, living is cheaper in Banjul: $677 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Banjul, Gambia
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Banjul
🇬🇲 Gambia
$677
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Banjul

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 Banjul actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,608 per month in Mexico City vs $677 in Banjul, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Banjul $677

A couple spends around $2,549 per month in Mexico City vs $1,191 in Banjul, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Banjul $1,191

A family of three spends $3,490 per month in Mexico City vs $1,706 in Banjul, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Banjul $1,706

Mexico City costs about 138% more than Banjul, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Mexico City sits 18% above the global median, while Banjul is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$7.47 GMD 554
42.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
$75.6 GMD 5,603
-36.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$8.04 GMD 596
28.73%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.8
$3.72 GMD 276
-0.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.07
$2.66 GMD 197
-37.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.59
$1.53 GMD 114
-16.99%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$5.76 GMD 427
-44.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$4.46 GMD 331
19.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.15
$1.40 GMD 104
22.86%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.7
$0.61 GMD 44.98
398.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$1.32 GMD 97.6
46.97%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$1.90 GMD 141
52.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$6.24 GMD 462
75.80%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$2.77 GMD 206
233.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$5.77 GMD 427
162.22%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$2.08 GMD 154
46.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$1.27 GMD 93.9
52.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.75
$1.79 GMD 132
13.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.15
$1.40 GMD 104
65.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.94
$0.93 GMD 69.0
119.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.55
$1.00 GMD 74.0
80.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.58
$0.23 GMD 17.04
543.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.63
$0.62 GMD 46.05
104.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.9
$1.69 GMD 125
213.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$6.55 GMD 486
145.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.97
$1.51 GMD 112
31.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.3
$1.66 GMD 123
156.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.69
$0.18 GMD 13.08
72.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
$6.66 GMD 493
196.25%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.25
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$0.71 GMD 52.5
-25.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$4.09 GMD 303
29.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.16
$1.05 GMD 77.8
43.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.5K
$2,648 GMD 196.2K
721.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$447.1K
$3,346 GMD 248.0K
616.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,174
$30.46 GMD 2,257
106.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$511
$14.52 GMD 1,076
88.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$665
$44.51 GMD 3,298
-19.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,099
$24.02 GMD 1,780
145.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
$13.42 GMD 994
76.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$3.33 GMD 247
92.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,045
$6.92 GMD 513
6136.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.9K
$139 GMD 10.3K
8143.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,272
$56.3 GMD 4,170
21.24%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
$44.27 GMD 3,280
20.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,009
$98.0 GMD 7,262
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,186
$86.9 GMD 6,439
34.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$105 GMD 7,744
965.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$82.1 GMD 6,082
765.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
$220 GMD 16.3K
1074.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
$138 GMD 10.2K
917.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.7K
$1,443 GMD 107.0K
151.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$1,165 GMD 86.3K
83.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Banjul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$62.4 GMD 4,622
1416.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
15
-24.33%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Banjul: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Banjul
$82 88.4% $628
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Banjul
$152 52.4% $167
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Banjul
$183 7.8% $16
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Banjul
$128 17.6% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Banjul
$89 29% $37
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Banjul
$31 57.2% $41
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Banjul
$11 * 57.1% $15

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,113 in Mexico City versus $105 in Banjul. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Mexico City are about 15 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48 in Mexico City versus $76 in Banjul. Groceries tell a different story – $320 in Mexico City vs $152 in Banjul – so Banjul wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇬🇲 Banjul
🕒 Local time
17:47 5:47 PM
23:47 11:47 PM
6 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
31,356 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

GMD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Gambian Dalasi exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 74.1 GMD (100 GMD = 1.35 USD). 1 EUR = 82.49 GMD (100 GMD = 1.21 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Banjul 8,750 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Banjul

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 Banjul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjul cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 138%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,412 per month in Mexico City and $1,015 in Banjul. 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 Banjul, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $105 there versus $1,113 in Mexico City.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Banjul?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $677 in Banjul. That makes Banjul about 58% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 66% less in Banjul. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Banjul?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Banjul, where all-in costs run around $677, than in Mexico City at $1,608. In Banjul it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Banjul more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjul – 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 Banjul. 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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