😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $701 in Settat.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,139 in Settat.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,577 in Settat.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 109% more expensive than Settat, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Settat is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$230
$3.25MAD 30.05
305.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$941
$33.41MAD 309
61.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$165
$7.23MAD 66.8
30.29%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$62.0
$1.19MAD 10.99
198.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.25
$0.44MAD 4.10
268.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.46
$0.33MAD 3.02
236.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.5
$1.29MAD 11.94
141.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$1.65MAD 15.26
180.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.71
$0.90MAD 8.28
88.89%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.47
$0.59MAD 5.42
361.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.39
$1.78MAD 16.43
7.30%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.28
$2.00MAD 18.47
27.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$175
$9.68MAD 89.4
3.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$141
$6.13MAD 56.7
31.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$203
$11.09MAD 102
4.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.8
$1.52MAD 14.06
95.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.39MAD 12.83
30.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.15
$0.90MAD 8.30
123.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.53
$0.88MAD 8.12
130.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$37.10
$0.80MAD 7.35
165.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.63
$0.74MAD 6.84
206.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.45
$0.42MAD 3.92
233.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.74
$0.59MAD 5.48
91.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.6
$4.36MAD 40.25
-2.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$272
$8.06MAD 74.5
93.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$2.71MAD 25.02
-35.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.8
$2.94MAD 27.19
22.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.69
$0.43MAD 3.94
-11.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$335
$16.21MAD 150
18.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.02
$0.80MAD 7.42
72.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.51MAD 4.73
-45.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$95.1
$5.45MAD 50.4
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$1.53MAD 14.16
-15.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$326.3K
$36.9KMAD 340.4K
-49.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$403.9K
$29.7KMAD 274.0K
-22.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$714
$21.57MAD 199
89.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$468
$5.42MAD 50.1
394.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$523
$45.19MAD 417
-33.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$908
$19.06MAD 176
172.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$469
$23.03MAD 213
16.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$110
$6.66MAD 61.5
-5.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,616
$115MAD 1,060
280.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$181.9K
$6,295MAD 58.2K
65.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$989
$42.80MAD 395
32.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$775
$50.4MAD 465
-11.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,797
$107MAD 992
-4.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,843
$103MAD 951
2.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.8K
$275MAD 2,542
271.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$11.0K
$172MAD 1,590
266.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.3K
$513MAD 4,738
316.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.7K
$301MAD 2,784
312.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Settat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.5K
$220MAD 2,036
405.81%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Settat: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $275 in Settat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 406% 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 $288 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 109% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $701 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?
Mexico City pays 406% 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: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $275 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $115 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 $701 in Settat versus $1,467 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 109% 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