😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $614 in Sfax.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $998 in Sfax.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,382 in Sfax.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 139% more expensive than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Sfax is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.32TND 9.58
296.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$931
$20.66TND 59.7
160.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.42TND 9.90
175.44%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.3
$0.76TND 2.18
367.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.95
$0.64TND 1.86
153.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.25
$0.25TND 0.72
344.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$53.9
$1.56TND 4.51
100.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.0
$1.89TND 5.47
144.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.40
$0.54TND 1.57
214.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$46.97
$0.18TND 0.52
1411.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.04
$1.55TND 4.47
23.23%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.82
$1.66TND 4.79
53.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$173
$11.33TND 32.74
-11.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.62TND 16.24
43.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$13.48TND 38.95
-13.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.22TND 6.41
33.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.21
$2.97TND 8.60
-39.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.79
$1.02TND 2.93
97.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.16
$0.70TND 2.02
190.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.71
$0.80TND 2.32
165.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.21
$0.75TND 2.18
202.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.20
$0.49TND 1.41
185.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.53
$0.31TND 0.88
264.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.8
$3.48TND 10.05
22.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$6.69TND 19.32
132.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.36
$1.11TND 3.20
58.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.1
$1.10TND 3.19
227.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.18TND 0.53
111.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$331
$10.29TND 29.74
86.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$0.30TND 0.86
360.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.30TND 0.88
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.1
$7.31TND 21.13
-25.44%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.53
$0.83TND 2.41
56.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$322.9K
$35.1KTND 101.4K
-46.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$399.7K
$34.1KTND 98.7K
-32.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$706
$46.04TND 133
-11.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$463
$9.67TND 27.96
177.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$14.90TND 43.05
101.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$899
$27.11TND 78.3
91.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$7.31TND 21.14
267.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$4.51TND 13.03
39.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,536
$106TND 307
309.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.0K
$2,494TND 7,207
317.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$979
$44.42TND 128
27.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$767
$43.53TND 126
1.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,779
$100TND 289
2.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,823
$65.8TND 190
60.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$187TND 542
445.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$133TND 384
375.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$333TND 962
541.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$248TND 718
400.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.4K
$1,031TND 2,980
278.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$663TND 1,915
211.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$322TND 931
246.04%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Sfax: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $187 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 246% 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 $21.00 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $190 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 Sfax?
Mexico City and Sfax differ by about 139% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $614 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?
Mexico City pays 246% 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 Sfax?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 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 Sfax?
A monthly transit pass in Sfax runs roughly 86% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $106 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 $614 in Sfax versus $1,467 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 139% 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