😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $651 in El Jadida.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $967 in El Jadida.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,282 in El Jadida.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 157% more expensive than in El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, El Jadida is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$2.87MAD 27.01
323.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$21.20MAD 199
154.25%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$6.21MAD 58.4
78.58%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$1.59MAD 14.96
157.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.47MAD 4.43
257.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.29MAD 2.68
379.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$2.79MAD 26.24
19.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$2.63MAD 24.67
123.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$0.96MAD 9.01
92.71%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.42MAD 3.92
654.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.97MAD 18.53
5.08%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$1.94MAD 18.19
51.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$6.56MAD 61.6
91.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$4.20MAD 39.49
140.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$8.20MAD 77.0
96.22%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.59MAD 14.94
113.21%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.47MAD 13.84
41.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$0.72MAD 6.74
194.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$0.67MAD 6.32
259.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$0.69MAD 6.46
208.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.48MAD 4.48
318.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.33MAD 3.14
369.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.54MAD 5.07
151.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$3.98MAD 37.44
44.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$4.15MAD 38.99
327.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$2.61MAD 24.52
-20.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$3.02MAD 28.42
52.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.47MAD 4.38
-21.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
$17.20MAD 162
23.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$1.08MAD 10.17
89.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$1.09MAD 10.25
-46.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$5.46MAD 51.3
11.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$1.56MAD 14.65
-0.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$34.9KMAD 327.8K
-34.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$31.2KMAD 293.1K
-12.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$29.29MAD 275
130.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$10.52MAD 98.9
191.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$32.46MAD 305
14.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$29.84MAD 280
105.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
$12.61MAD 118
115.07%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$6.58MAD 61.8
8.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$116MAD 1,086
294.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$3,239MAD 30.4K
322.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$28.85MAD 271
157.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$37.71MAD 354
51.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$66.7MAD 627
73.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$74.0MAD 695
64.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$211MAD 1,987
442.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$173MAD 1,624
310.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$369MAD 3,465
598.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$237MAD 2,227
446.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$1,570MAD 14.8K
155.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$818MAD 7,688
160.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$482MAD 4,530
124.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.5
105.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for El Jadida: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $211 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 124% 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 $21.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $156 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 157% 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 124% 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $211 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 121% 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 $21.00 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 $651 in El Jadida versus $1,677 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 $651 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 157% 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