😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $695 in Settat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,131 in Settat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,568 in Settat.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 110% more expensive than in Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Settat is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$3.33MAD 31.15
292.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$33.22MAD 311
61.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$7.01MAD 65.6
38.09%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.18MAD 11.06
216.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.48MAD 4.51
237.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.36MAD 3.32
222.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.28MAD 12.01
152.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$1.66MAD 15.50
185.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.84MAD 7.84
96.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.54MAD 5.08
409.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.77MAD 16.59
5.65%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.08MAD 19.47
20.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$9.53MAD 89.2
7.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$6.15MAD 57.5
34.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$11.34MAD 106
4.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.52MAD 14.24
98.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.38MAD 12.94
31.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.95MAD 8.89
110.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.88MAD 8.27
127.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.78MAD 7.31
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.73MAD 6.86
210.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.42MAD 3.95
247.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.63MAD 5.89
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$4.48MAD 41.92
-2.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$8.22MAD 76.9
106.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$2.68MAD 25.11
-35.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$3.08MAD 28.86
16.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.43MAD 4.00
-9.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$16.41MAD 154
13.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.79MAD 7.44
68.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.48MAD 4.50
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$5.61MAD 52.5
-6.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.53MAD 14.32
-12.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$37.5KMAD 351.1K
-48.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$30.2KMAD 282.3K
-21.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$21.52MAD 201
89.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$5.52MAD 51.7
386.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$45.53MAD 426
-32.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$19.52MAD 183
170.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$23.22MAD 217
14.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$6.52MAD 61.1
-0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$112MAD 1,044
283.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$6,248MAD 58.5K
68.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$43.37MAD 406
32.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$50.9MAD 476
-10.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$108MAD 1,010
-3.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$103MAD 961
5.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$280MAD 2,620
258.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$172MAD 1,605
262.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$505MAD 4,724
317.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$301MAD 2,813
305.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$213MAD 1,993
387.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.75
138.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Settat: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $280 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 387% 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 $33.00 in Settat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $196 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 in Settat?
Mexico City and Settat differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $695 including rent). Settat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Settat?
Average pay runs 387% 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 Settat?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $280 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 in Settat?
A monthly transit pass in Settat runs roughly 14% 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 $428 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 $695 in Settat versus $1,456 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 – 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 – 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