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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $61.8 in Tamale.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $91.0 in Tamale.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $121 in Tamale.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 2274% more expensive than Tamale, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Tamale is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$2.83 GHS 33.26

365.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$2.41 GHS 28.34

290.87%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$0.95 GHS 11.15

273.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.51 GHS 5.93

217.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

$0.41 GHS 4.78

170.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$0.71 GHS 8.28

339.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$0.95 GHS 11.17

387.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$1.45 GHS 17.02

21.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$0.93 GHS 10.89

-59.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.7K MX$323.2K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.1K MX$400.1K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.86 MX$707

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.81 MX$464

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

$9,681 GHS 113.7K

7.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tamale: June 2, 2026

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 Tamale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Tamale differ by about 2274% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $61.8 including rent). Tamale is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $92.7 in Tamale to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 3879% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $61.8 in Tamale – a 2274% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $61.8 in Tamale versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Tamale but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tamale the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Tamale gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2274% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.