๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $628 in Sfax.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,342 in Mexico City versus $1,005 in Sfax.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,199 in Mexico City versus $1,382 in Sfax.
๐Living in Mexico City is roughly 136% more expensive than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Sfax is 53% below.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.29MX$231
$3.36TNDย 9.67
295.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$933
$19.94TNDย 57.4
169.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.29MX$161
$3.43TNDย 9.89
170.85%
Cappuccino
$3.61MX$62.6
$0.72TNDย 2.07
401.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.03
$0.64TNDย 1.85
143.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.46
$0.23TNDย 0.66
386.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.13MX$54.3
$1.50TNDย 4.31
108.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MX$81.7
$1.89TNDย 5.45
149.21%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$0.54TNDย 1.54
214.81%
White Bread(500g)
$2.77MX$48.03
$0.18TNDย 0.52
1438.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.05
$1.54TNDย 4.44
27.27%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.21
$1.58TNDย 4.56
64.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.94MX$173
$11.44TNDย 32.94
-13.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.10MX$141
$5.77TNDย 16.62
40.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.50MX$200
$13.43TNDย 38.68
-14.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87MX$49.84
$2.16TNDย 6.23
32.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.07
$2.98TNDย 8.58
-41.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.73
$1.05TNDย 3.02
90.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$0.69TNDย 2.00
195.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.14
$0.74TNDย 2.13
181.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.20MX$38.12
$0.71TNDย 2.05
209.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.24
$0.52TNDย 1.50
178.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.63
$0.33TNDย 0.96
224.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.2
$3.50TNDย 10.09
22.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.32MX$249
$6.86TNDย 19.76
108.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.62
$1.10TNDย 3.17
60.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MX$64.2
$1.09TNDย 3.14
239.45%
๐ Getting Around
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.12
$0.18TNDย 0.53
94.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$10.00TNDย 28.80
91.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.34MX$23.18
$0.30TNDย 0.85
346.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.31TNDย 0.88
-9.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.33MX$92.6
$7.52TNDย 21.65
-29.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.88TNDย 2.53
52.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$332.0K
$35.8KTNDย 103.0K
-46.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.9KMX$414.5K
$34.4KTNDย 99.1K
-30.62%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$45.20TNDย 130
-11.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.78MX$465
$9.57TNDย 27.55
179.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.36MX$510
$15.11TNDย 43.50
94.31%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$927
$27.00TNDย 77.8
97.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.09MX$453
$7.42TNDย 21.37
251.62%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MX$111
$4.64TNDย 13.36
37.93%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$440MX$7,647
$110TNDย 317
300.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.8KMX$186.6K
$2,460TNDย 7,086
336.97%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.6MX$1,000
$45.58TNDย 131
26.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.02MX$781
$44.60TNDย 128
0.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,801
$101TNDย 290
3.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,874
$65.6TNDย 189
64.49%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,013MX$17.6K
$188TNDย 542
438.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$630MX$10.9K
$133TNDย 384
372.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,162MX$37.5K
$336TNDย 968
543.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,222MX$21.2K
$251TNDย 722
387.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,793MX$65.8K
$995TNDย 2,867
281.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.5K
$669TNDย 1,927
248.57%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,075MX$18.7K
$325TNDย 936
230.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
13.6
-16.62%
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 Sfax: April 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,013 in Mexico City and $188 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐ฐMexico City pays 231% 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 $20 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $285 vs $191 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 136% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $628 including rent). Sfax is meaningfully more affordable โ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Sfax?
Mexico City pays 231% 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: $1,013 in Mexico City versus $188 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 92% 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 $440 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 $628 in Sfax versus $1,484 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 โ 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 โ expenses run 136% 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