Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Maiduguri

For one person, living is cheaper in Maiduguri: $170 a month against $1,548 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $16,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Maiduguri
🇳🇬 Nigeria
$170
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Maiduguri

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Maiduguri actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City versus $170 in Maiduguri.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Maiduguri $170

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,436 in Mexico City versus $284 in Maiduguri.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Maiduguri $284

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,323 in Mexico City versus $398 in Maiduguri.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Maiduguri $398

Living in Mexico City is roughly 811% more expensive than in Maiduguri, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 14% above, Maiduguri is 87% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$0.51 ₦673
2060.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$1.83 ₦2,433
495.63%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$0.89 ₦1,178
313.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$0.27 ₦361
503.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$0.19 ₦249
557.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.03 ₦1,368
193.20%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$1.95 ₦2,598
-1.54%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$1.75 ₦2,326
56.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$4.90 ₦6,515
94.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$4.04 ₦5,375
256.68%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$4.08 ₦5,430
-25.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$0.97 ₦1,291
125.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$1.48 ₦1,973
29.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$1.01 ₦1,349
85.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$0.39 ₦514
269.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$0.31 ₦417
309.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$0.36 ₦485
-5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$0.25 ₦331
508.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$7.92 ₦10.5K
260.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$7.89 ₦10.5K
215.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$20.38 ₦27.1K
232.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$17.88 ₦23.8K
190.60%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$25.37 ₦33.7K
317.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$24.82 ₦33.0K
353.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Maiduguri
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
0
-

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Maiduguri: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Maiduguri
–
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Maiduguri
–
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Maiduguri
–
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Maiduguri
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Maiduguri
–
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Maiduguri
–
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Maiduguri
–
Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇳🇬 Maiduguri
🕒 Local time
05:40 5:40 AM
12:40 12:40 PM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
1,197,497
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

NGN, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Nigerian Naira exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 1,330 NGN (10,000 NGN = 7.52 USD). 1 EUR = 1,495 NGN (10,000 NGN = 6.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Maiduguri 11,830 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Maiduguri

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Maiduguri: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maiduguri cheaper than Mexico City?
Maiduguri is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 811% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,322 in Mexico City and $255 in Maiduguri 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.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Maiduguri?
Supermarket bills run roughly 222% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Maiduguri?
All in, you'll spend $1,548 per month in Mexico City versus $170 in Maiduguri – a 811% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Maiduguri?
At $170 in Maiduguri versus $1,548 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maiduguri but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Maiduguri the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Maiduguri more family-friendly?
For families, Maiduguri is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Maiduguri gentler on the wallet – expenses run 811% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?