😐A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $389 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $734 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,079 in Kaduna, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 278% more than Kaduna, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Kaduna is 71% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$2.14₦2,913
514.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$35.40₦48.3K
51.21%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$3.60₦4,904
159.17%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.37₦499
332.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.12₦168
833.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$0.82₦1,114
282.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$1.39₦1,894
248.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$2.26₦3,086
-26.99%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.00₦1,359
171.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$2.12₦2,897
-9.91%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$3.26₦4,450
-20.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$2.40₦3,268
308.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$5.72₦7,803
108.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$6.44₦8,779
-54.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$3.57₦4,876
-51.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.13₦1,548
80.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.88₦2,565
9.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$2.38₦3,253
-9.66%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$2.35₦3,208
-3.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.37₦500
275.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.34₦467
229.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$1.88₦2,563
831.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$14.09₦19.2K
187.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$7.24₦9,883
278.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$33.90₦46.2K
-10.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$11.36₦15.5K
413.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$20.93₦28.6K
112.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$21.04₦28.7K
391.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$20.84₦28.4K
421.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$170₦231.9K
496.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$107₦146.3K
480.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$494₦673.8K
329.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$274₦373.7K
346.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kaduna
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Last update for Kaduna: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $170 in Kaduna. 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 $35.00 in Kaduna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $167 – making Kaduna 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 Kaduna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Kaduna?
Mexico City costs about 278% more than Kaduna, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Kaduna?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $584 in Kaduna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Kaduna?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kaduna, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Kaduna?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Mexico City and $389 in Kaduna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Kaduna?
Groceries cost about 75% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Kaduna?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kaduna, where all-in costs run around $389, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Kaduna it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Kaduna?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kaduna costs $389 versus $1,472 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Kaduna?
If budget matters most, go with Kaduna. 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