Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Calabar Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Calabar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,561 per month in Mexico City vs $817 in Calabar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,440 per month in Mexico City vs $1,137 in Calabar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,319 per month in Mexico City vs $1,456 in Calabar, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 91% more than Calabar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 16% above the global median, while Calabar is 39% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.12 MX$200

$1.13 ₦1,493

884.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.99 MX$880

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.23 MX$202

Cappuccino

$3.76 MX$67.5

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

$1.65 MX$29.69

$0.37 ₦484

345.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.28 MX$22.98

$0.18 ₦245

611.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 MX$58.5

$0.94 ₦1,240

246.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.66 MX$102

$1.24 ₦1,636

356.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 MX$32.52

White Bread (500g)

$2.94 MX$52.8

$1.33 ₦1,756

121.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 MX$36.82

$1.54 ₦2,043

33.12%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$52.6

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.95 MX$215

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.51 MX$171

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.84 MX$267

Apples (1kg)

$3.14 MX$56.5

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$36.20

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$37.29

Tomato (1kg)

$2.22 MX$39.86

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$37.01

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 MX$33.73

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.48 MX$26.60

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 MX$24.17

$0.47 ₦626

187.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 MX$97.2

Wine (Bottle)

$16.86 MX$303

$4.57 ₦6,048

268.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 MX$35.66

$1.13 ₦1,494

75.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.32 MX$77.7

$1.49 ₦1,977

189.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$6.20

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.23 MX$363

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$37.65

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.53 MX$9.53

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 MX$97.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MX$27.31

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

$21.7K MX$390.5K

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

$24.8K MX$445.9K

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

$63.0 MX$1,132

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

$28.88 MX$519

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.93 MX$610

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$55.8 MX$1,002

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.90 MX$447

Cinema Ticket

$6.77 MX$122

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

$428 MX$7,687

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.9K MX$213.3K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.0 MX$1,258

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 MX$966

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 MX$1,973

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 MX$2,070

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 MX$19.1K

$1,114 ₦1.5M

-4.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$671 MX$12.1K

$754 ₦998.3K

-11.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,379 MX$42.8K

$1,898 ₦2.5M

25.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,260 MX$22.6K

$1,367 ₦1.8M

-7.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,716 MX$66.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,976 MX$35.5K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$997 MX$17.9K

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: October 6, 2026

Last update for Calabar: October 3, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Mexico City versus $1,114 in Calabar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

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 Calabar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,561 in Mexico City, $817 in Calabar – roughly 91% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,341 per month in Mexico City and $1,226 in Calabar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calabar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,561 in Mexico City and $817 in Calabar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 663% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calabar, where all-in costs run around $817, than in Mexico City at $1,561. In Calabar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $817 in Calabar to $1,561 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Calabar. 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.