Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and N'Djamena

For one person, living is cheaper in N'Djamena: $1,080 a month against $1,548 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $5,600 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Mexico City outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
N'Djamena
🇹🇩 Chad
$1,080
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in N'Djamena

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $1,080 in N'Djamena.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • N'Djamena $1,080

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $1,438 in N'Djamena.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • N'Djamena $1,438

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $1,796 in N'Djamena.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • N'Djamena $1,796

Living in Mexico City is roughly 45% more expensive than in N'Djamena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in utilities.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 16% above, N'Djamena is 20% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$8.35 FCFA 4,867
31.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$0.87 FCFA 505
322.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$0.88 FCFA 514
85.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$0.82 FCFA 480
52.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$1.31 FCFA 764
148.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$1.75 FCFA 1,019
216.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$3.71 FCFA 2,166
-54.18%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$0.35 FCFA 206
762.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$3.44 FCFA 2,005
-44.19%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$2.01 FCFA 1,173
35.82%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$3.52 FCFA 2,051
234.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$7.03 FCFA 4,097
35.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$3.52 FCFA 2,053
309.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$4.82 FCFA 2,810
-37.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$2.12 FCFA 1,235
-10.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$2.52 FCFA 1,472
-21.03%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$2.49 FCFA 1,450
-12.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$1.57 FCFA 913
22.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$1.56 FCFA 907
19.87%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$0.53 FCFA 308
171.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$2.09 FCFA 1,220
-39.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$0.96 FCFA 562
443.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$7.54 FCFA 4,397
114.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.18 FCFA 687
61.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$1.73 FCFA 1,006
143.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$0.42 FCFA 244
-19.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$84.0 FCFA 49.0K
-76.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$0.44 FCFA 259
354.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$0.41 FCFA 241
26.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$5.27 FCFA 3,070
1.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.26 FCFA 735
20.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$11.7K FCFA 6.8M
88.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$11.1K FCFA 6.5M
120.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$42.43 FCFA 24.7K
43.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$25.22 FCFA 14.7K
13.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$424 FCFA 247.0K
-91.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$25.94 FCFA 15.1K
161.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$33.87 FCFA 19.7K
53.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$42.64 FCFA 24.9K
148.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$85.1 FCFA 49.6K
32.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$1,712 FCFA 998.5K
-40.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$85.2 FCFA 49.7K
668.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$256 FCFA 149.1K
802.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$170 FCFA 99.4K
628.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
N'Djamena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$347 FCFA 202.6K
177.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.5
222.86%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for N'Djamena: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
N'Djamena
$85 87% $569
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
N'Djamena
$238 25.3% $81
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
N'Djamena
$94 * 53.9% $110
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
N'Djamena
$84 44.6% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
N'Djamena
$491 296% $367
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
N'Djamena
- * 100%
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
N'Djamena
$88 244% $63

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $1,712 in N'Djamena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 181% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇹🇩 N'Djamena
🕒 Local time
04:00 4:00 AM
11:00 11:00 AM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
1,092,066 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter

XAF, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Central African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 583 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.71 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XAF (1,000 XAF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City N'Djamena 12,000 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • N'Djamena

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 N'Djamena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in N'Djamena?
Mexico City and N'Djamena differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($1,567 vs $1,080 including rent). N'Djamena is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or N'Djamena?
Average pay runs 181% higher in Mexico City, 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 N'Djamena?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $1,712 in N'Djamena. 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 N'Djamena?
A monthly transit pass in N'Djamena runs roughly 323% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or N'Djamena?
All in, you'll spend $1,567 per month in Mexico City versus $1,080 in N'Djamena – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,080 in N'Djamena versus $1,567 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in N'Djamena but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes N'Djamena the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and N'Djamena?
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 N'Djamena?
Expats usually find N'Djamena gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?