😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,352 in Niamey.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,809 in Niamey.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,265 in Niamey.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 10% more expensive than Niamey, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Niamey1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.33F CFA 2,992
143.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$39.67F CFA 22.3K
33.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$10.70F CFA 6,002
-9.16%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$3.21F CFA 1,801
16.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$1.47F CFA 822
6.80%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.64F CFA 357
76.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.30F CFA 731
144.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.13F CFA 1,755
48.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$2.53F CFA 1,418
-35.97%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.60F CFA 339
351.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.25F CFA 703
50.40%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.39F CFA 1,342
5.02%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
-
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.53F CFA 4,224
10.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$8.09F CFA 4,540
47.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$4.54F CFA 2,547
-37.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.50F CFA 839
16.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$2.96F CFA 1,658
-29.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$2.04F CFA 1,144
-3.43%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.45F CFA 812
48.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.68F CFA 383
220.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.91F CFA 512
52.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.33F CFA 744
-15.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.63F CFA 1,473
59.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$10.54F CFA 5,912
35.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.39F CFA 777
26.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.18F CFA 1,225
68.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.59F CFA 333
-33.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$26.76F CFA 15.0K
-30.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.42F CFA 235
230.95%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.42F CFA 233
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$6.11F CFA 3,428
-11.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.98F CFA 548
37.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$21.2KF CFA 11.9M
-11.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$24.2KF CFA 13.6M
-4.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$359F CFA 201.1K
-88.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$17.44F CFA 9,780
57.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$8.98F CFA 5,037
238.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$62.7F CFA 35.2K
-14.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$8.72F CFA 4,893
201.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$4.95F CFA 2,775
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$1,008F CFA 565.6K
-56.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,894F CFA 2.7M
113.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$43.58F CFA 24.4K
30.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$53.6F CFA 30.1K
-16.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$40.26F CFA 22.6K
155.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$49.46F CFA 27.7K
118.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$957F CFA 536.7K
4.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$444F CFA 249.1K
39.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$890F CFA 499.2K
140.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$456F CFA 256.0K
170.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,777F CFA 996.6K
117.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,015F CFA 569.4K
129.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Niamey
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$323F CFA 181.4K
229.96%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
11
3.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Niamey: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $957 in Niamey. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 230% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $40.00 in Niamey for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $219 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 Niamey?
Mexico City and Niamey differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,352 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?
Mexico City pays 230% more on average, 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 Niamey?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $957 in Niamey. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Niamey?
A monthly transit pass in Niamey runs roughly 43% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Niamey?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $1,008 in Niamey. 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 $1,352 in Niamey versus $1,484 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 10% 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