Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kano Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kano

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $106 in Kano.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $186 in Kano.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $266 in Kano.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1489% more expensive than in Kano, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Kano is 92% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$1.72 ₦2,281

605.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$916

$14.75 ₦19.5K

265.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$6.17 ₦8,174

79.74%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 MX$28.57

$0.20 ₦267

740.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.58

$0.15 ₦205

826.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.6

$0.31 ₦411

974.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.9

$0.31 ₦416

1796.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.45

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.9

$0.65 ₦861

387.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.18

$0.54 ₦716

283.33%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.74

$0.87 ₦1,148

236.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.6

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.31

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.02

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$41.01

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.17

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.07

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.25

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.19

$0.58 ₦774

134.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$98.0

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.16

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.4

$0.31 ₦416

1387.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$0.29 ₦387

27.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$360

$12.38 ₦16.4K

71.08%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.89

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.80

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.38

$0.52 ₦687

198.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.9K MX$388.6K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.2K MX$462.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$67.4 MX$1,145

$7.39 ₦9,798

812.18%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.62 MX$520

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$633

$6.41 ₦8,498

480.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,044

$20.66 ₦27.4K

197.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$461

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$456 MX$7,750

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,260

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$969

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,961

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,064

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.1K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$68.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kano: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $15.00 in Kano for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $20.00 per month, with Kano 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 Kano: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Kano differ by about 1489% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $106 including rent). Kano is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,515 in Mexico City and $158 in Kano to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Dining out is cheaper in Kano – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

A monthly transit pass in Kano runs roughly 71% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $106 in Kano versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kano but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kano the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Kano gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1489% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.