😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $812 in Ibadan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,520 in Ibadan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,229 in Ibadan.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 81% more expensive than Ibadan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Ibadan is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.83₦2,488
620.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$931
$29.27₦39.8K
84.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.47₦7,426
72.21%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.3
$1.03₦1,405
244.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.95
$0.29₦395
458.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.25
$0.19₦260
484.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$53.9
$0.76₦1,035
310.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.0
$1.26₦1,714
267.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.40
$2.35₦3,187
-27.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$46.97
$1.15₦1,563
136.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.04
$2.06₦2,802
-7.28%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.82
$1.72₦2,330
47.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$173
$4.37₦5,943
129.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$4.29₦5,827
88.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$4.18₦5,684
177.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.47₦3,357
20.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.21
$1.21₦1,648
49.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.79
$1.24₦1,679
62.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.16
$1.63₦2,214
24.54%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.71
$2.16₦2,934
-1.85%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.21
$1.55₦2,109
46.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.20
$0.92₦1,254
52.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.53
$0.32₦439
253.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.8
$1.26₦1,705
238.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$1.02₦1,384
1425.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.36
$0.63₦858
179.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.1
$0.89₦1,211
304.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.36₦483
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$331
$36.42₦49.5K
-47.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$1.24₦1,681
11.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.04₦1,417
-73.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.1
$3.68₦5,005
48.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.53
$0.57₦769
128.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$322.9K
$9,512₦12.9M
96.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$399.7K
$14.2K₦19.2M
63.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$706
$20.99₦28.5K
94.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$463
$7.46₦10.1K
259.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$19.75₦26.8K
51.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$899
$29.50₦40.1K
76.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$2.67₦3,628
135.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,536
$50.4₦68.5K
764.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.0K
$1,910₦2.6M
445.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$979
$18.37₦24.9K
208.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$767
$24.43₦33.2K
81.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,779
$43.76₦59.4K
135.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,823
$29.58₦40.2K
256.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$451₦612.8K
126.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$433₦588.5K
45.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$1,214₦1.6M
75.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,291₦1.8M
-3.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.4K
$846₦1.1M
361.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$28.82₦39.1K
7062.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ibadan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$55.9₦75.9K
1896.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
16.33
-30.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Ibadan: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $451 in Ibadan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 1896% 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 $29.00 in Ibadan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $154 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 81% 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 Ibadan?
Mexico City pays 1896% more on average, 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 vs Ibadan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $451 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 Ibadan?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $50.4 in Ibadan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Ibadan?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Ibadan?
At $812 in Ibadan versus $1,467 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 $812 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 81% 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