😐A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $801 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,315 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,829 in Cape Coast, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 83% more than Cape Coast, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Cape Coast is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$4.43GHS 52.0
197.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$48.03GHS 564
12.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.95GHS 93.4
18.49%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$3.43GHS 40.28
3.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.93GHS 10.93
74.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.37GHS 4.38
200.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.59GHS 18.61
96.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.45GHS 28.79
88.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$3.48GHS 40.80
-51.15%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.49GHS 17.52
82.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$2.35GHS 27.63
-18.72%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.29GHS 26.84
10.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$11.26GHS 132
-10.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$4.60GHS 54.1
75.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$6.01GHS 70.6
93.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.92GHS 34.27
1.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.39GHS 16.32
30.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.71GHS 20.04
17.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$3.19GHS 37.41
-36.36%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$3.14GHS 36.87
-32.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$2.32GHS 27.22
-2.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.76GHS 8.94
84.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.49GHS 5.71
130.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$1.66GHS 19.44
157.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$7.06GHS 82.9
120.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.13GHS 13.22
55.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$1.90GHS 22.28
89.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$1.56GHS 18.26
-11.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.17GHS 13.74
-76.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$5.63GHS 66.1
-3.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$1.11GHS 13.08
17.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$8,141GHS 95.6K
129.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$9,796GHS 115.0K
136.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$55.8GHS 655
-26.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$13.40GHS 157
100.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$37.90GHS 445
-20.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$9.88GHS 116
-36.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$73.0GHS 858
497.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$8,176GHS 96.0K
27.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$14.92GHS 175
279.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$18.60GHS 218
138.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$29.54GHS 347
248.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$41.13GHS 483
156.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$696GHS 8,166
46.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$260GHS 3,057
142.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$1,404GHS 16.5K
52.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$554GHS 6,507
124.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cape Coast
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
25.4
-55.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Cape Coast: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $696 in Cape Coast. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $48.00 in Cape Coast. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $235 – making Cape Coast the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Cape Coast: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cape Coast cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 83%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,201 in Cape Coast. 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 Cape Coast, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Cape Coast?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $801 in Cape Coast. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $73.0 in Cape Coast. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Cape Coast?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cape Coast, where all-in costs run around $801, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Cape Coast it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Cape Coast more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cape Coast – 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 Cape Coast. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared