๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $706 in Settat.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,342 in Mexico City versus $1,153 in Settat.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Mexico City versus $1,600 in Settat.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 110% more expensive than Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Settat is 48% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$3.36MADย 30.98
295.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$33.47MADย 309
60.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$7.20MADย 66.5
29.03%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$1.23MADย 11.38
193.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$0.47MADย 4.38
231.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$0.35MADย 3.25
220.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
$1.35MADย 12.47
131.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
$1.59MADย 14.69
196.23%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$0.90MADย 8.31
88.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$0.58MADย 5.37
377.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$1.85MADย 17.03
5.95%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$2.10MADย 19.37
23.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$9.63MADย 88.9
3.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$6.01MADย 55.5
34.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$11.24MADย 104
2.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$1.56MADย 14.36
83.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$1.38MADย 12.72
25.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$0.92MADย 8.46
117.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$0.88MADย 8.17
131.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$0.74MADย 6.79
181.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$0.75MADย 6.96
193.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$0.43MADย 3.96
237.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.60MADย 5.51
78.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$4.43MADย 40.88
-3.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
$8.02MADย 74.0
78.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
$2.65MADย 24.45
-33.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
$2.98MADย 27.47
24.16%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$0.46MADย 4.23
-23.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$16.29MADย 150
17.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$0.74MADย 6.82
81.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.48MADย 4.44
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$5.42MADย 49.99
-1.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.52MADย 14.01
-11.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$36.7KMADย 338.6K
-47.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$29.6KMADย 272.9K
-19.24%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$21.63MADย 200
84.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$5.38MADย 49.70
397.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$46.18MADย 426
-36.42%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$19.07MADย 176
180.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
$23.61MADย 218
10.50%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$6.69MADย 61.8
-4.33%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$112MADย 1,036
292.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$6,338MADย 58.5K
69.63%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$42.64MADย 394
35.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$50.6MADย 467
-10.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$107MADย 987
-2.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$103MADย 954
4.41%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$277MADย 2,558
265.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$173MADย 1,598
263.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$509MADย 4,698
324.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$306MADย 2,821
299.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
-
-
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$483MADย 4,456
122.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.75
138.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Last update for Settat: April 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Mexico City and $277 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 123% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
๐Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $33 in Settat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $195 per month, with Settat 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 Settat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Settat?
Mexico City and Settat differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $706 including rent). Settat is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Settat?
Mexico City pays 123% 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 Settat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,013 in Mexico City versus $277 in Settat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Settat?
A monthly transit pass in Settat runs roughly 18% 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 Settat?
Childcare runs $440 in Mexico City versus $112 in Settat. 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 $706 in Settat versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Settat but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Settat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Settat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better โ the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Settat safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Settat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Settat?
Expats usually find Settat gentler on the wallet โ expenses run 110% 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