😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,373 in Niamey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,747 in Niamey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,121 in Niamey.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 21% more expensive than in Niamey, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Niamey0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$6.75F CFA 3,854
76.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$39.28F CFA 22.4K
31.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$9.84F CFA 5,617
15.96%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$3.27F CFA 1,868
22.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$1.48F CFA 846
12.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$1.03F CFA 588
29.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.29F CFA 739
168.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$3.03F CFA 1,727
94.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$2.41F CFA 1,375
-21.99%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.55F CFA 313
490.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.74F CFA 992
24.14%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$2.27F CFA 1,295
27.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.98F CFA 3,413
68.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$8.12F CFA 4,636
95.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$3.47F CFA 1,981
-5.19%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.61F CFA 916
24.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$2.98F CFA 1,703
-26.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.68F CFA 957
40.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$1.51F CFA 862
35.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$0.73F CFA 419
160.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.90F CFA 514
78.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$1.09F CFA 619
28.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.61F CFA 1,487
109.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$14.11F CFA 8,054
25.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.43F CFA 813
44.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$3.54F CFA 2,022
32.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.33F CFA 191
3.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.45F CFA 257
366.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.34F CFA 192
64.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$8.93F CFA 5,096
-34.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.99F CFA 565
62.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$21.4KF CFA 12.2M
6.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$24.3KF CFA 13.9M
10.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$179F CFA 102.0K
-63.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$17.68F CFA 10.1K
70.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$87.1F CFA 49.7K
-57.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$74.8F CFA 42.7K
-20.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$5.34F CFA 3,046
31.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$1,055F CFA 601.9K
-55.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$4,323F CFA 2.5M
207.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$69.7F CFA 39.8K
8.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$88.8F CFA 50.7K
-37.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$52.5F CFA 30.0K
113.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$71.4F CFA 40.8K
68.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$962F CFA 549.0K
14.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$528F CFA 301.6K
36.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$833F CFA 475.2K
203.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$424F CFA 241.9K
205.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,782F CFA 1.0M
123.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$997F CFA 569.1K
109.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$396F CFA 225.7K
162.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
9
25.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Niamey: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $962 in Niamey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 162% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $39.00 in Niamey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $212 per month, with Niamey cheaper across the board.
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 Niamey: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Niamey?
Mexico City and Niamey differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $1,373 including rent). Niamey is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Niamey?
Average pay runs 162% 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 Niamey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $962 in Niamey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Niamey?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $1,055 in Niamey. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Niamey – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,373 in Niamey versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Niamey but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Niamey the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Niamey?
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 Niamey?
Expats usually find Niamey gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% 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