😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $250 in Ibadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $558 in Ibadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $866 in Ibadan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 570% more expensive than in Ibadan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Ibadan is 82% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$1.11₦1,476
993.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$30.24₦40.1K
78.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$6.09₦8,073
82.10%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$0.80₦1,066
412.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.20₦265
740.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.12₦153
1058.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$0.58₦771
474.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$1.15₦1,528
411.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$0.59₦787
213.56%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.60₦791
428.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.11₦1,476
86.49%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$1.53₦2,034
91.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$3.52₦4,667
257.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$3.89₦5,153
159.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$0.75₦993
2045.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.67₦2,209
102.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.32₦1,743
57.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$1.13₦1,501
87.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$0.29₦382
731.03%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$0.58₦774
267.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.24₦319
737.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.22₦290
604.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.14₦181
871.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$0.59₦784
877.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$1.12₦1,482
1483.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$0.41₦542
404.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$0.46₦616
902.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.12₦162
208.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$0.70₦933
192.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.62₦827
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$1.13₦1,492
437.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$0.55₦734
181.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$4,162₦5.5M
449.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$14.0K₦18.5M
95.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$11.27₦14.9K
498.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$3.81₦5,047
703.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$9.06₦12.0K
311.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$21.77₦28.9K
182.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$1.54₦2,035
361.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$48.73₦64.6K
836.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$627₦831.4K
2082.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$12.16₦16.1K
510.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$5.80₦7,689
882.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$15.07₦20.0K
665.83%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$21.64₦28.7K
461.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$124₦164.4K
824.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$45.33₦60.1K
1464.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$461₦611.0K
459.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$308₦408.2K
320.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$875₦1.2M
357.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$30.87₦40.9K
6798.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$58.2₦77.2K
1757.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
18.05
-37.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ibadan: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $124 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 1758% 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 $30.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $87.0 per month, with Ibadan 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 Ibadan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Ibadan?
Ibadan wins on cost – living expenses run 570% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ibadan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Ibadan?
Average pay runs 1758% 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 Ibadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $124 in Ibadan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Ibadan?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $48.73 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Ibadan?
Dining out is cheaper in Ibadan – a meal for two runs $30.00 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 Ibadan?
At $250 in Ibadan versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ibadan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ibadan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Ibadan?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ibadan delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $250 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ibadan hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ibadan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 570% 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