😐A single person spends $1,448 per month in Mexico City vs $568 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,354 per month in Mexico City vs $869 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,260 per month in Mexico City vs $1,171 in Mahdia, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 155% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 9% 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
$12.96MX$223
$2.61TND 7.59
396.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$20.67TND 60.1
153.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$3.43TND 9.98
182.51%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$0.75TND 2.19
400.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$0.58TND 1.68
168.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$0.19TND 0.56
510.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$1.04TND 3.01
211.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$1.50TND 4.36
226.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$0.44TND 1.28
286.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$0.20TND 0.59
1235.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$1.56TND 4.55
21.15%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$1.59TND 4.61
58.49%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$11.32TND 32.92
-11.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$5.85TND 17.01
45.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$13.44TND 39.08
-11.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$2.16TND 6.29
37.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$2.91TND 8.45
-38.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$1.01TND 2.95
98.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$0.74TND 2.15
164.86%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$0.66TND 1.90
227.27%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$0.33TND 0.96
587.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$0.35TND 1.02
300.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$0.31TND 0.90
258.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$3.51TND 10.21
19.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$3.47TND 10.10
376.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$1.14TND 3.32
47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$1.09TND 3.18
229.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$0.33TND 0.95
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$10.04TND 29.20
91.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$0.32TND 0.93
331.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$0.26TND 0.76
15.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$7.53TND 21.88
-28.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$0.82TND 2.38
57.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$35.4KTND 102.9K
-46.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$35.0KTND 101.9K
-32.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$46.05TND 134
-13.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$9.88TND 28.73
181.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$14.80TND 43.03
101.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$21.07TND 61.3
146.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$7.56TND 21.97
246.83%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$4.47TND 13.00
40.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$107TND 312
303.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$1,029TND 2,990
924.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$45.62TND 133
24.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$33.95TND 98.7
33.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$103TND 299
-0.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$23.45TND 68.2
362.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$144TND 418
591.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$137TND 398
351.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$291TND 846
616.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$159TND 462
689.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$1,004TND 2,918
292.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$640TND 1,859
226.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$237TND 688
377.82%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Mahdia: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $994 in Mexico City versus $144 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 378% 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: $292 vs $181 – 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 155%, 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 $2,173 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 $433 per month in Mexico City and $107 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 Mahdia?
Groceries cost about 61% 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 Mexico City or Mahdia?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahdia, where all-in costs run around $568, than in Mexico City at $1,448. 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