😐A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $630 in Kilifi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $1,038 in Kilifi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $1,446 in Kilifi, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 161% more than Kilifi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 20% above the global median, while Kilifi is 54% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$205
$1.96KES 254
517.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$883
$49.48KES 6,402
5.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$184
$2.37KES 307
359.92%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.5
$1.96KES 254
106.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.00
$0.81KES 104
112.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.29
$0.75KES 96.7
84.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.6
$1.56KES 202
122.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.2
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-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.33
$1.09KES 141
69.72%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.5
$0.83KES 108
287.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.25
$2.06KES 267
1.46%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.18
$1.93KES 250
50.78%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$211
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
-
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$269
$7.95KES 1,028
99.87%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.0
$2.34KES 303
41.45%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.95
$0.72KES 93.2
195.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.03
$1.72KES 223
27.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.37
$0.48KES 61.7
410.42%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.00
$0.80KES 104
173.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.20
$0.78KES 101
143.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.31
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-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.82
$0.24KES 31.05
462.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.7
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$297
$12.50KES 1,617
40.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$34.96
$1.72KES 223
20.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.2
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-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.75
$0.78KES 101
-56.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$365
$26.93KES 3,485
-19.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.49
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.77
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.31
$1.38KES 178
17.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.6K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$450.7K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,103
$15.34KES 1,985
325.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$505
$10.23KES 1,323
191.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$618
$25.09KES 3,246
45.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,031
$28.14KES 3,641
116.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$451
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-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$7.51KES 971
-8.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,664
$161KES 20.8K
182.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$226.0K
$4,960KES 641.7K
169.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,267
$9.61KES 1,243
680.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$935
$9.06KES 1,172
510.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,920
$15.33KES 1,983
641.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,073
$17.41KES 2,252
604.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.2K
$328KES 42.5K
245.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.0K
$307KES 39.8K
131.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.5K
$273KES 35.4K
840.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.2K
$564KES 72.9K
132.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kilifi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
$228KES 29.4K
360.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
8
41.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Kilifi: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $328 in Kilifi. 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 360% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $49.00 in Kilifi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $125 – making Kilifi 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 Kilifi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Kilifi compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City, $630 in Kilifi – roughly 161% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Kilifi?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $944 in Kilifi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Kilifi?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kilifi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Kilifi?
Kindergarten costs $453 per month in Mexico City and $161 in Kilifi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 176% 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.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kilifi, where all-in costs run around $630, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Kilifi 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 Kilifi?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $630 in Kilifi to $1,646 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Kilifi?
If budget matters most, go with Kilifi. 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