Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Benin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Benin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $441 in Benin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $745 in Benin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,049 in Benin.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 280% more expensive than in Benin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Benin is 68% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$1.38 ₦1,825

779.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$50.9 ₦67.5K

5.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$5.78 ₦7,655

91.87%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$2.89 ₦3,831

41.87%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$0.29 ₦388

479.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$0.16 ₦218

768.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$0.97 ₦1,291

243.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$1.01 ₦1,342

482.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$3.05 ₦4,039

-39.34%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$0.78 ₦1,031

306.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$1.21 ₦1,603

71.07%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$2.28 ₦3,019

28.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$3.50 ₦4,644

259.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$3.82 ₦5,064

164.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$4.38 ₦5,799

267.35%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$1.69 ₦2,243

100.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$1.26 ₦1,673

65.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$1.15 ₦1,526

84.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$1.28 ₦1,693

88.28%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$1.33 ₦1,760

60.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$1.32 ₦1,756

52.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$0.86 ₦1,134

80.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$0.37 ₦489

267.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$0.54 ₦719

968.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$2.70 ₦3,583

557.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$0.55 ₦723

276.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$0.47 ₦619

880.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

$0.65 ₦856

215.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$0.99 ₦1,307

-41.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$2.22 ₦2,937

173.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$0.74 ₦978

109.46%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$11.5K ₦15.3M

98.12%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$13.6K ₦18.1M

99.91%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$112 ₦147.9K

-39.59%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$16.10 ₦21.3K

90.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$32.40 ₦42.9K

14.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$4.80 ₦6,363

48.13%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$661 ₦875.9K

-30.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$20.0K ₦26.5M

-31.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$14.73 ₦19.5K

403.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$18.08 ₦24.0K

215.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$36.46 ₦48.3K

216.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$49.61 ₦65.7K

144.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$114 ₦150.9K

850.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

18.05

-37.40%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Benin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 851% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $51.0 in Benin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $146 per month, with Benin 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 Benin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Benin differ by about 280% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $441 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 851% 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.

Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $661 in Benin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Benin – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $441 in Benin versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Benin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Benin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Benin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 280% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.