Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Monastir

For one person, living is cheaper in Monastir: $706 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $10,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Monastir, Tunisia
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monastir
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$706
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $706 in Monastir.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Monastir $706

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $1,131 in Monastir.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Monastir $1,131

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $1,555 in Monastir.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Monastir $1,555

Living in Mexico City is roughly 128% more expensive than in Monastir, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Monastir is 48% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$200
$5.01 TND 15.04
111.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$909
$22.48 TND 67.6
115.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$194
$6.15 TND 18.46
68.29%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$69.4
$1.19 TND 3.58
210.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.32
$0.74 TND 2.23
125.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.78
$0.36 TND 1.09
252.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$60.0
$1.63 TND 4.91
95.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$99.7
$1.63 TND 4.90
225.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.41
$0.44 TND 1.31
290.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$57.1
$0.17 TND 0.51
1688.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.48
$1.68 TND 5.04
15.48%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$54.3
$1.58 TND 4.73
82.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$206
$13.71 TND 41.18
-19.99%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$174
$6.15 TND 18.47
50.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$284
$14.60 TND 43.85
3.63%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$57.3
$2.01 TND 6.05
51.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.48
$4.40 TND 13.21
-55.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$38.06
$1.20 TND 3.59
69.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.50
$0.80 TND 2.39
188.75%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$38.25
$0.87 TND 2.62
134.48%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.83
$0.72 TND 2.17
150.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.80
$0.44 TND 1.33
236.36%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.82
$0.33 TND 1.00
284.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$99.7
$3.74 TND 11.24
41.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$303
$5.70 TND 17.14
182.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$37.27
$1.21 TND 3.64
63.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.9
$1.32 TND 3.96
221.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.73
$0.32 TND 0.95
-3.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$371
$11.01 TND 33.08
79.20%
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
$0.29 TND 0.86
82.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$99.5
$1.77 TND 5.32
199.44%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.39
$0.83 TND 2.48
81.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$408.8K
$39.7K TND 119.3K
-45.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$450.8K
$35.9K TND 108.0K
-33.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,184
$61.5 TND 185
2.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$515
$10.56 TND 31.74
159.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$670
$20.06 TND 60.3
77.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,108
$23.67 TND 71.1
149.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$444
$6.63 TND 19.92
256.56%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$120
$6.03 TND 18.12
6.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,111
$94.4 TND 284
357.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$214.7K
$3,205 TND 9,630
256.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,282
$46.92 TND 141
45.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$999
$67.5 TND 203
-21.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,026
$111 TND 334
-3.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,204
$97.2 TND 292
20.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.9K
$203 TND 609
449.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.4K
$121 TND 362
489.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.6K
$354 TND 1,064
630.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.4K
$233 TND 701
502.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$68.2K
$1,219 TND 3,661
197.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$40.1K
$619 TND 1,859
245.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Monastir
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.8K
$347 TND 1,041
172.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
11
3.18%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Monastir: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Monastir
$121 83% $590
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Monastir
$210 34.3% $110
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Monastir
$89 55.4% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Monastir
$145 6.8% $11
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Monastir
$92 26.9% $34
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Monastir
$36 50.2% $36
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Monastir
$14 45.1% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $203 in Monastir. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays about 2.7 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $22 in Monastir for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $210 per month, with Monastir cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇹🇳 Monastir
🕒 Local time
05:40 5:40 AM
12:40 12:40 PM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
104,535
💱 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 = 20.97 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 Monastir 10,430 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Monastir

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 Monastir: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Monastir?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $706 in Monastir, so Monastir is about 56% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Monastir?
Average pay in Mexico City is about 2.7 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Monastir?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $203 in Monastir. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Monastir?
A monthly transit pass in Monastir runs roughly 44% less than in Mexico City. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Monastir?
Childcare runs $432 in Mexico City versus $94 in Monastir. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $706 in Monastir versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Monastir but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Monastir the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Monastir?
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 Monastir?
Expats usually find Monastir gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% 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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