😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $879 in Tangier.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,371 in Tangier.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,863 in Tangier.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 66% more expensive than in Tangier, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Tangier is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$4.41MAD 41.14
196.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$942
$30.62MAD 285
75.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$7.24MAD 67.5
33.70%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.5
$1.66MAD 15.49
125.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.32
$0.66MAD 6.17
145.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.36
$0.33MAD 3.05
251.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$3.80MAD 35.45
-15.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$3.34MAD 31.12
41.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.87
$1.01MAD 9.38
63.37%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.26
$0.85MAD 7.94
223.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.84
$1.69MAD 15.76
10.65%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.82
$2.20MAD 20.50
13.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$9.76MAD 91.0
4.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$6.80MAD 63.4
21.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$12.65MAD 118
-6.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.7
$1.30MAD 12.12
131.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.75
$1.37MAD 12.73
32.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.04
$0.77MAD 7.14
159.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.97
$0.74MAD 6.86
170.27%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.53
$0.65MAD 6.03
220.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.82
$0.72MAD 6.70
215.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.53
$0.54MAD 5.07
170.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.86
$0.62MAD 5.76
74.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.2
$4.26MAD 39.77
2.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$9.92MAD 92.5
71.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.38
$3.29MAD 30.69
-47.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$3.27MAD 30.49
9.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.43MAD 4.01
-9.30%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$327
$16.66MAD 155
12.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.23
$0.58MAD 5.38
129.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.90
$0.48MAD 4.46
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$9.95MAD 92.8
-47.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.42
$1.52MAD 14.21
-11.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.2K
$37.3KMAD 347.8K
-47.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$417.7K
$24.5KMAD 228.3K
-2.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$713
$83.8MAD 781
-51.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$11.17MAD 104
140.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$39.16MAD 365
-22.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$925
$27.90MAD 260
89.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$38.31MAD 357
-30.44%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$7.18MAD 66.9
-9.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,502
$97.9MAD 913
337.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.0K
$6,495MAD 60.6K
61.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,003
$30.46MAD 284
87.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$797
$45.53MAD 425
-0.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,824
$88.9MAD 829
17.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,890
$80.9MAD 754
33.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$445MAD 4,153
125.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$238MAD 2,215
162.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$873MAD 8,142
141.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.3K
$441MAD 4,112
176.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$1,810MAD 16.9K
114.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.6K
$1,264MAD 11.8K
60.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$510MAD 4,756
103.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.35
160.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tangier: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $445 in Tangier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 103% 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 $31.00 in Tangier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $213 per month, with Tangier 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 Tangier: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Tangier?
Mexico City and Tangier differ by about 66% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $879 including rent). Tangier is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Tangier?
Average pay runs 103% 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 Tangier?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $445 in Tangier. 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 Tangier?
A monthly transit pass in Tangier runs roughly 12% 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 Tangier?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $97.9 in Tangier. 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 $879 in Tangier versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tangier but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tangier the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tangier?
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 Tangier safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tangier 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 Tangier?
Expats usually find Tangier gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% 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