Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Maroua Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Maroua

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $346 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $518 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $689 in Maroua.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 329% more expensive than Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Maroua is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MX$27.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

-8.99%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$0.86 FCFA 484

215.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$2.97 FCFA 1,668

-36.70%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$2.75 FCFA 1,541

-8.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$5.45 FCFA 3,054

84.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$5.20 FCFA 2,916

59.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$3.45 FCFA 1,933

246.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$1.80 FCFA 1,009

58.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$0.91 FCFA 512

92.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$0.89 FCFA 500

133.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$1.72 FCFA 967

14.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$2.68 FCFA 1,503

-19.40%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$1.79 FCFA 1,005

21.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$0.90 FCFA 506

24.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

$11.73 FCFA 6,580

21.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

$0.85 FCFA 477

107.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$1.78 FCFA 997

106.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$330.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K MX$405.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.82 MX$714

$52.0 FCFA 29.2K

-21.55%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 MX$481

$9.05 FCFA 5,073

203.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

$17.57 FCFA 9,855

204.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

$1.78 FCFA 1,001

1377.53%

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$87.0 FCFA 48.8K

612.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

$158 FCFA 88.5K

682.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Maroua: 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 Maroua: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Maroua is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 329% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $519 in Maroua 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $346 in Maroua – a 329% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $346 in Maroua versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Maroua but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Maroua the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Maroua 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.

Expats usually find Maroua gentler on the wallet – expenses run 329% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.