Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ouagadougou

For one person, living is cheaper in Ouagadougou: $1,158 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $5,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Ouagadougou
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
$1,158
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $1,158 in Ouagadougou.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Ouagadougou $1,158

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $1,908 in Ouagadougou.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Ouagadougou $1,908

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $2,658 in Ouagadougou.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Ouagadougou $2,658

Living in Mexico City is roughly 39% more expensive than in Ouagadougou, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Ouagadougou is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$7.06 F CFA 4,158
50.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
$25.18 F CFA 14.8K
92.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$7.34 F CFA 4,323
41.01%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.8
$2.04 F CFA 1,202
80.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.07
$1.05 F CFA 617
59.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.59
$1.10 F CFA 648
15.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$1.20 F CFA 709
165.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$2.62 F CFA 1,545
102.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.15
$1.95 F CFA 1,150
-11.79%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.7
$1.12 F CFA 662
171.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$0.84 F CFA 493
130.95%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$2.52 F CFA 1,486
14.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$16.97 F CFA 9,994
-35.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$20.39 F CFA 12.0K
-54.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$14.70 F CFA 8,658
2.93%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$4.61 F CFA 2,716
-33.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.75
$3.34 F CFA 1,967
-39.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.15
$3.79 F CFA 2,232
-39.05%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.94
$1.52 F CFA 893
34.21%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.55
$1.66 F CFA 977
8.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.58
$1.30 F CFA 766
13.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.63
$1.35 F CFA 794
-5.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.9
$1.28 F CFA 754
314.06%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$6.02 F CFA 3,545
167.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.97
$1.44 F CFA 846
37.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.3
$2.54 F CFA 1,494
67.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.69
$0.15 F CFA 85.9
106.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.25
$0.52 F CFA 307
253.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$0.81 F CFA 476
-34.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$8.54 F CFA 5,030
-37.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.16
$1.43 F CFA 840
5.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.5K
$36.8K F CFA 21.7M
-40.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$447.1K
$31.4K F CFA 18.5M
-23.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,174
$176 F CFA 103.5K
-64.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$511
$26.04 F CFA 15.3K
5.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$665
$54.0 F CFA 31.8K
-33.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,099
$59.2 F CFA 34.9K
-0.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
$8.27 F CFA 4,867
185.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$6.71 F CFA 3,951
-4.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,045
$33.99 F CFA 20.0K
1169.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.9K
$6,080 F CFA 3.6M
87.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,272
$34.58 F CFA 20.4K
97.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
$50.6 F CFA 29.8K
5.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,009
$86.4 F CFA 50.9K
24.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,186
$103 F CFA 60.5K
14.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$337 F CFA 198.6K
230.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$228 F CFA 134.0K
212.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
$1,312 F CFA 772.4K
97.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
$738 F CFA 434.9K
90.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.7K
$849 F CFA 500.2K
327.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$251 F CFA 148.0K
749.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$607 F CFA 357.5K
55.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
12
-5.42%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Ouagadougou: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Ouagadougou
$228 68% $483
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Ouagadougou
$350 * 9.6% $31
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Ouagadougou
$123 38.1% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Ouagadougou
$123 20.8% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Ouagadougou
$256 103% $130
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Ouagadougou
$73 1.2% $0.9
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Ouagadougou
$5.2 * 79.8% $20

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 $1,113 in Mexico City and $337 in Ouagadougou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 56% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $25 in Ouagadougou. Groceries flip the comparison at $320 vs $350, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇧🇫 Ouagadougou
🕒 Local time
15:34 3:34 PM
21:34 9:34 PM
6 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
1,915,102 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

XOF, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

West African CFA Franc exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 589 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.7 USD). 1 EUR = 656 XOF (1,000 XOF = 1.53 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Ouagadougou 10,330 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Ouagadougou

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 Ouagadougou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Ouagadougou?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $1,158 in Ouagadougou, so Ouagadougou is about 28% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Ouagadougou?
Average pay runs 56% 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 Ouagadougou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $337 in Ouagadougou. 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 Ouagadougou?
Childcare runs $432 in Mexico City versus $34 in Ouagadougou. 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 Ouagadougou – a meal for two runs $25 versus $48 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $2,000 go in Mexico City compared to Ouagadougou?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Ouagadougou gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ouagadougou?
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.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Ouagadougou?
It comes down to priorities – Ouagadougou wins on affordability, Mexico City on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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