Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Manouba

For one person, living is cheaper in Manouba: $654 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $11,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Manouba, Tunisia
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Manouba
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$654
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Manouba actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $654 in Manouba.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Manouba $654

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $1,026 in Manouba.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Manouba $1,026

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $1,398 in Manouba.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Manouba $1,398

Living in Mexico City is roughly 146% more expensive than in Manouba, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Manouba is 52% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$200
$3.34 TND 10.03
217.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$909
$20.45 TND 61.4
136.43%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$194
$6.04 TND 18.16
71.36%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$69.4
$1.17 TND 3.52
215.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.32
$0.60 TND 1.79
178.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.78
$0.27 TND 0.81
370.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$60.0
$1.56 TND 4.70
104.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$99.7
$2.34 TND 7.02
126.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.41
$0.46 TND 1.37
273.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$57.1
$0.22 TND 0.66
1281.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.48
$1.31 TND 3.95
48.09%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$54.3
$1.62 TND 4.87
78.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$206
$9.89 TND 29.70
10.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$174
$5.52 TND 16.58
67.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$284
$13.89 TND 41.74
8.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$57.3
$1.80 TND 5.42
69.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.48
$3.06 TND 9.21
-36.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.06
$1.07 TND 3.22
89.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.50
$0.68 TND 2.04
239.71%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$38.25
$0.76 TND 2.28
168.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.83
$0.66 TND 1.97
172.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.80
$0.50 TND 1.50
196.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.82
$0.34 TND 1.01
273.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$99.7
$3.62 TND 10.89
46.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$303
$6.77 TND 20.34
137.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$37.27
$1.18 TND 3.54
67.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.9
$1.08 TND 3.25
293.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.73
$0.33 TND 0.99
-6.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$371
$10.03 TND 30.12
96.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.53
$0.29 TND 0.87
534.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$10.03
$0.31 TND 0.93
70.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$99.5
$1.79 TND 5.38
196.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.39
$0.82 TND 2.46
84.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$408.8K
$35.9K TND 107.9K
-39.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$450.8K
$34.3K TND 103.1K
-30.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,184
$45.98 TND 138
36.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$515
$8.59 TND 25.80
218.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$670
$21.14 TND 63.5
68.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,108
$27.04 TND 81.2
117.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$444
$12.70 TND 38.14
86.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$120
$5.23 TND 15.71
22.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,111
$96.2 TND 289
348.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$214.7K
$2,484 TND 7,462
359.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,282
$42.58 TND 128
60.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$999
$35.69 TND 107
48.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,026
$102 TND 305
6.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,204
$68.1 TND 205
72.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.9K
$208 TND 624
436.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.4K
$158 TND 474
350.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.6K
$373 TND 1,121
593.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.4K
$269 TND 807
423.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$68.2K
$965 TND 2,900
276.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$40.1K
$605 TND 1,817
253.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Manouba
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
10.65
6.57%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Manouba: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Manouba
$158 77.8% $553
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Manouba
$184 42.5% $136
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Manouba
$75 62.3% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Manouba
$112 28.4% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Manouba
$76 39.9% $50
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Manouba
$37 47.7% $34
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Manouba
$13 48.2% $12

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $208 in Manouba. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $20 in Manouba for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $184 per month, with Manouba cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇹🇳 Manouba
🕒 Local time
19:47 7:47 PM
02:47 2:47 AM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
58,792
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.98 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 3 TND (1 TND = 0.333 USD). 1 EUR = 3.35 TND (1 TND = 0.298 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Manouba 10,320 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Manouba

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 Manouba: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Manouba?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $654 in Manouba, so Manouba is about 59% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Manouba?
You’d need roughly $2,412 in Mexico City and $981 in Manouba 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 apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Manouba?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $208 in Manouba. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Manouba – a meal for two runs $20 versus $48 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $654 in Manouba versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Manouba but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Manouba the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Manouba?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Manouba?
Expats usually find Manouba gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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