😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $574 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $888 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,201 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 154% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Kairouan is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$2.33TND 6.83
460.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$8.45TND 24.71
536.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$3.45TND 10.09
180.58%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$0.71TND 2.06
426.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.65TND 1.89
149.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.15TND 0.45
673.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.49TND 4.35
116.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$1.90TND 5.57
149.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.45TND 1.32
266.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.08TND 0.24
3337.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.53TND 4.49
22.22%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.48TND 4.32
68.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$11.38TND 33.30
-10.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$5.44TND 15.92
51.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$11.72TND 34.30
0.85%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.14TND 6.26
40.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.33TND 6.82
-22.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.04TND 3.04
92.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.70TND 2.05
185.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.65TND 1.90
220.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.72TND 2.10
215.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.52TND 1.52
180.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.25TND 0.73
332.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.41TND 9.98
27.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.87TND 20.10
147.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.10TND 3.21
57.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$1.07TND 3.13
234.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.35TND 1.04
11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$10.06TND 29.45
85.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.31TND 0.91
329.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.33TND 0.97
-15.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$7.51TND 21.96
-30.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.74TND 2.16
81.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$35.0KTND 102.4K
-44.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$34.1KTND 99.9K
-30.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$46.06TND 135
-11.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$9.77TND 28.59
175.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$14.80TND 43.30
106.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$23.48TND 68.7
124.79%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$12.92TND 37.81
106.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$4.55TND 13.32
43.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$109TND 319
292.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$2,475TND 7,242
324.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$24.18TND 70.8
136.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$43.89TND 128
3.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$48.36TND 142
115.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$65.8TND 192
63.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$118TND 344
753.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$134TND 392
364.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$373TND 1,090
466.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$275TND 805
342.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$951TND 2,783
308.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$695TND 2,035
192.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$325TND 952
218.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
13.6
-16.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $118 in Kairouan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 219% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $8.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $176 – making Kairouan 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 Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City, $574 in Kairouan – roughly 154% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $861 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Kairouan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 86% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $428 per month in Mexico City and $109 in Kairouan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $574, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Kairouan?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $574 in Kairouan to $1,456 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Kairouan safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. 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