😐A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $567 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $858 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,150 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 160% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Mahdia is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$2.48TND 7.26
429.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$19.98TND 58.6
167.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$3.44TND 10.08
171.22%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$0.72TND 2.12
413.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.62TND 1.81
158.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.19TND 0.56
489.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$0.99TND 2.92
217.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$1.53TND 4.50
216.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$0.44TND 1.28
275.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$0.16TND 0.48
1593.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$1.55TND 4.56
23.23%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.59TND 4.66
62.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$11.15TND 32.71
-12.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$5.66TND 16.61
48.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$13.43TND 39.41
-11.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.17TND 6.38
35.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$2.96TND 8.68
-41.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.00TND 2.94
104.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$0.73TND 2.14
182.19%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$0.70TND 2.05
207.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$0.32TND 0.95
606.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.35TND 1.04
297.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.31TND 0.91
261.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$3.61TND 10.59
16.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$3.28TND 9.61
433.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.11TND 3.25
54.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$1.06TND 3.10
242.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.35TND 1.03
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$10.22TND 30.00
89.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$0.30TND 0.87
360.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.24TND 0.70
16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$7.63TND 22.38
-30.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$0.80TND 2.35
70.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$36.0KTND 105.7K
-46.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$34.2KTND 100.5K
-31.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$45.39TND 133
-10.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$9.83TND 28.85
178.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$15.11TND 44.35
101.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$20.63TND 60.6
153.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$7.80TND 22.88
239.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$4.69TND 13.77
31.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$109TND 319
290.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$1,030TND 3,023
942.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$43.88TND 129
32.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$34.29TND 101
29.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$99.9TND 293
3.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$23.36TND 68.6
365.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$145TND 425
599.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$138TND 404
352.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$292TND 858
624.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$160TND 470
663.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
$687TND 2,015
452.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
$203TND 597
936.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
$235TND 689
348.07%
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 25, 2026
Last update for Mahdia: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $145 in Mahdia. 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 348% 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 $20.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $179 – making Mahdia 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 Mahdia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahdia cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 160%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $851 in Mahdia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Mexico City and $109 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Mahdia?
Groceries cost about 64% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Mahdia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $567, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Mahdia it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Mahdia more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Mahdia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. 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