😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $664 in El Jadida.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $986 in El Jadida.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,307 in El Jadida.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 119% more expensive than in El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, El Jadida is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$3.85MAD 35.91
239.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$19.90MAD 186
170.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$6.75MAD 62.9
43.41%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$1.52MAD 14.15
146.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.43MAD 4.03
276.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.32MAD 2.98
262.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$2.76MAD 25.78
17.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$3.24MAD 30.23
46.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$0.88MAD 8.21
87.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.47MAD 4.39
485.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.85MAD 17.21
1.08%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.86MAD 17.38
34.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$5.07MAD 47.25
101.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$3.84MAD 35.83
114.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$7.92MAD 73.8
49.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.58MAD 14.74
90.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.27MAD 11.83
42.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$0.76MAD 7.04
163.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$0.80MAD 7.46
150.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$0.79MAD 7.38
163.29%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.49MAD 4.61
363.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.33MAD 3.10
342.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.60MAD 5.63
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$4.03MAD 37.58
7.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$4.42MAD 41.17
284.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$2.41MAD 22.52
-28.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.93MAD 27.34
22.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.50MAD 4.69
-22.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$25.83MAD 241
-27.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$1.07MAD 10.00
24.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.49MAD 4.56
-42.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$3.32MAD 30.94
58.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.53MAD 14.26
-12.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$32.9KMAD 307.2K
-41.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$30.0KMAD 280.0K
-20.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$31.73MAD 296
28.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$10.91MAD 102
146.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$33.07MAD 308
-7.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$27.23MAD 254
93.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$17.78MAD 166
49.89%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$6.68MAD 62.3
-2.54%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$89.2MAD 832
379.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$2,638MAD 24.6K
298.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$40.04MAD 373
42.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$41.07MAD 383
10.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$66.4MAD 619
56.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$60.2MAD 561
79.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$231MAD 2,155
334.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$173MAD 1,613
259.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$390MAD 3,633
441.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$250MAD 2,334
386.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$1,597MAD 14.9K
143.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$822MAD 7,661
147.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$473MAD 4,411
119.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5
126.80%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for El Jadida: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $231 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 119% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $20.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $148 per month, with El Jadida cheaper across the board.
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 El Jadida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or El Jadida?
El Jadida wins on cost – living expenses run 119% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Jadida the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in El Jadida?
Average pay runs 119% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to El Jadida?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $231 in El Jadida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in El Jadida?
Supermarket bills run roughly 98% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in El Jadida?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in El Jadida?
At $664 in El Jadida versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Jadida but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes El Jadida the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or El Jadida?
Both work as nomad bases, but El Jadida delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $664 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Jadida hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to El Jadida?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and El Jadida are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared