😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,031 in Ouagadougou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,699 in Ouagadougou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,367 in Ouagadougou.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 41% more expensive than in Ouagadougou, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Ouagadougou is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$5.40F CFA 3,102
142.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$23.98F CFA 13.8K
124.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$8.06F CFA 4,625
20.10%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.71F CFA 983
118.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.84F CFA 485
92.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.58F CFA 333
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.03F CFA 593
213.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$1.81F CFA 1,037
161.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$2.73F CFA 1,570
-39.56%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.90F CFA 517
205.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.02F CFA 585
83.33%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$3.07F CFA 1,765
-18.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$17.47F CFA 10.0K
-41.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$21.08F CFA 12.1K
-60.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$12.37F CFA 7,101
-4.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$4.29F CFA 2,465
-29.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.42F CFA 815
27.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.01F CFA 582
98.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$2.48F CFA 1,425
-19.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$2.16F CFA 1,242
-3.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.36F CFA 780
66.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.84F CFA 484
73.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$1.35F CFA 776
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$1.71F CFA 984
154.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.19F CFA 3,551
174.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.30F CFA 745
33.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.33F CFA 1,336
53.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.20F CFA 117
95.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.51F CFA 294
160.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.61F CFA 923
-82.61%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.46F CFA 839
-8.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$37.3KF CFA 21.4M
-48.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$37.8KF CFA 21.7M
-36.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$127F CFA 72.9K
-67.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$35.50F CFA 20.4K
-24.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$50.7F CFA 29.1K
-39.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$61.2F CFA 35.2K
-13.81%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$8.60F CFA 4,936
209.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$8.94F CFA 5,134
-27.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$135F CFA 77.2K
218.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$17.7KF CFA 10.2M
-40.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$449F CFA 257.9K
123.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$277F CFA 158.9K
125.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$1,279F CFA 734.6K
64.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$765F CFA 439.1K
59.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$877F CFA 503.8K
342.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$260F CFA 149.5K
680.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ouagadougou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$607F CFA 348.7K
70.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Ouagadougou: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $449 in Ouagadougou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 71% 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 $24.00 in Ouagadougou. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $346, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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?
Mexico City and Ouagadougou differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,031 including rent). Ouagadougou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Ouagadougou?
Average pay runs 71% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $449 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $135 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 $24.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,031 in Ouagadougou versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ouagadougou but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ouagadougou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Ouagadougou?
Expats usually find Ouagadougou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% 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