😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $31.48 in Makurdi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $46.00 in Makurdi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $60.1 in Makurdi.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 4613% more expensive than Makurdi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Makurdi is 98% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$0.66₦903
1866.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
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Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.48₦4,790
179.31%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
-
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.16₦227
881.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.13₦183
769.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$0.60₦821
430.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$1.11₦1,523
319.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
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White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
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Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
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-
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
-
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Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
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Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
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Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
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Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
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Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
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Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
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Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
-
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Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
-
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Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
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Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
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Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
-
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Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
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Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
-
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Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
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Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
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🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
-
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Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
-
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Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
-
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Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
-
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Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
-
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Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
-
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🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
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Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
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🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
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Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
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Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
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🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
-
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International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
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👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$20.44₦28.1K
177.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
-
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Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
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Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
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🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
-
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3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
-
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Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
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Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
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💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Makurdi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
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CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Makurdi: April 27, 2026
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 Makurdi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Makurdi?
Makurdi wins on cost – living expenses run 4613% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makurdi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City vs Makurdi?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $47.22 in Makurdi 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Makurdi?
At $31.48 in Makurdi versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Makurdi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Makurdi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Makurdi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Makurdi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $31.48 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Makurdi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Makurdi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4613% 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