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: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $348 in Maroua.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $513 in Maroua.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $679 in Maroua.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 316% more expensive than Maroua, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Maroua is 74% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.78 FCFA 1,007

-4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.86 FCFA 484

206.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$3.09 FCFA 1,744

-38.51%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.78 FCFA 1,573

-8.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$5.31 FCFA 2,999

89.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$5.37 FCFA 3,034

54.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$3.59 FCFA 2,028

222.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.71 FCFA 964

77.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$0.87 FCFA 490

96.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$0.85 FCFA 483

141.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.72 FCFA 970

19.77%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$2.68 FCFA 1,514

-23.13%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.72 FCFA 970

26.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.85 FCFA 478

31.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$11.40 FCFA 6,440

35.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$0.92 FCFA 521

81.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.79 FCFA 1,013

106.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

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

$41.02 MX$704

$52.0 FCFA 29.4K

-21.13%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$8.97 FCFA 5,067

200.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$17.75 FCFA 10.0K

194.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$1.73 FCFA 977

1416.18%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

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

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$88.7 FCFA 50.1K

600.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$159 FCFA 89.6K

690.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Maroua: June 9, 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 316% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $522 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 58% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $348 in Maroua – a 316% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $348 in Maroua versus $1,447 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 316% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.