Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $607 in Sfax.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $984 in Sfax.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,360 in Sfax.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 140% more expensive than in Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sfax is 55% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$3.37 TND 9.85
287.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$20.38 TND 59.6
163.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$3.30 TND 9.67
193.33%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$0.78 TND 2.27
379.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$0.64 TND 1.89
153.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$0.25 TND 0.73
364.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$1.56 TND 4.55
107.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$1.92 TND 5.61
146.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$0.53 TND 1.56
211.32%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$0.16 TND 0.46
1618.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$1.50 TND 4.38
24.67%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$1.58 TND 4.63
58.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$11.15 TND 32.62
-8.52%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$5.76 TND 16.84
43.23%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$13.29 TND 38.88
-11.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$2.23 TND 6.53
34.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$2.95 TND 8.64
-38.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$1.05 TND 3.08
90.48%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$0.69 TND 2.03
189.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$0.80 TND 2.35
160.00%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$0.77 TND 2.25
194.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$0.51 TND 1.50
186.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$0.31 TND 0.90
248.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$3.60 TND 10.55
20.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$6.65 TND 19.46
155.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$1.10 TND 3.22
57.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$1.05 TND 3.08
240.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$0.21 TND 0.61
85.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
$10.10 TND 29.56
85.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$0.32 TND 0.95
315.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$0.33 TND 0.97
-15.15%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$7.59 TND 22.22
-30.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$0.82 TND 2.40
63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$36.3K TND 106.2K
-46.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$35.0K TND 102.5K
-32.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$45.93 TND 134
-11.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$9.42 TND 27.57
185.24%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$14.56 TND 42.61
109.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$27.04 TND 79.1
95.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
$7.49 TND 21.92
255.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$4.67 TND 13.68
39.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$110 TND 322
288.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$2,482 TND 7,262
323.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$44.06 TND 129
29.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$44.10 TND 129
3.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$101 TND 297
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$65.1 TND 190
65.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$187 TND 546
437.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$134 TND 391
366.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$336 TND 984
527.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$249 TND 729
388.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$1,017 TND 2,977
281.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$647 TND 1,893
214.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$327 TND 957
217.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
13.6
-16.62%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sfax: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $187 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 217% 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 $20.00 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $188 per month, with Sfax 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 Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sfax?
Mexico City and Sfax differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $607 including rent). Sfax is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Sfax?
Average pay runs 217% 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 Sfax?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $187 in Sfax. 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 Sfax?
A monthly transit pass in Sfax runs roughly 85% 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 Sfax?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $110 in Sfax. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $607 in Sfax versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfax but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sfax the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sfax?
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 Sfax?
Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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