😐A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $570 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $913 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,256 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 191% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Mahdia is 58% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$2.58TND 7.47
362.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$20.59TND 59.7
150.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$4.83TND 14.02
136.23%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$1.01TND 2.93
295.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$0.64TND 1.85
159.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.18TND 0.53
638.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$1.02TND 2.95
240.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$1.57TND 4.54
275.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$0.44TND 1.27
327.27%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$0.27TND 0.78
1103.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$1.40TND 4.07
54.29%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$1.58TND 4.60
83.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$11.75TND 34.07
9.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.15TND 14.93
95.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$15.09TND 43.77
5.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.89TND 8.38
13.84%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.97TND 8.60
-32.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.43TND 4.14
53.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$0.76TND 2.20
210.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.66TND 1.91
210.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$0.35TND 1.02
442.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.44TND 1.28
265.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.33TND 0.95
324.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$3.52TND 10.20
55.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$3.43TND 9.96
414.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.67TND 4.86
23.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$1.30TND 3.77
260.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.32TND 0.94
6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$13.45TND 39.00
54.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$0.32TND 0.94
556.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.28TND 0.81
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.90TND 2.61
78.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$40.5KTND 117.5K
-43.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$41.7KTND 120.9K
-35.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$56.7TND 164
14.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$7.48TND 21.68
302.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$20.75TND 60.2
79.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$21.37TND 62.0
179.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$7.52TND 21.80
253.06%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$6.69TND 19.40
5.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$113TND 329
310.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$1,043TND 3,026
1172.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$39.36TND 114
92.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$33.87TND 98.2
65.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$79.2TND 230
41.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$23.67TND 68.7
409.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$132TND 384
733.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$103TND 299
599.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$300TND 869
744.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$174TND 505
642.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$675TND 1,957
491.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$208TND 603
905.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$236TND 685
339.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
10.33
9.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mahdia: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $132 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 339% 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 $21.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $193 – 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 191%, 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 $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $855 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 $465 per month in Mexico City and $113 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 79% 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 $570, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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