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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $874 in Tangier.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,341 in Tangier.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,808 in Tangier.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 68% more expensive than Tangier, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Tangier is 35% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$4.43 MAD 40.68
197.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$30.25 MAD 278
78.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$7.23 MAD 66.5
30.29%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$1.72 MAD 15.77
106.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$0.70 MAD 6.47
131.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$0.33 MAD 3.00
236.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$3.94 MAD 36.20
-20.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$3.31 MAD 30.39
39.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$1.05 MAD 9.65
61.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$0.88 MAD 8.04
209.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$1.68 MAD 15.47
13.69%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$2.19 MAD 20.15
15.98%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$10.24 MAD 94.1
-2.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$6.86 MAD 63.1
17.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$12.55 MAD 115
-7.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$1.30 MAD 11.92
128.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$1.36 MAD 12.49
33.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$0.76 MAD 6.95
164.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$0.79 MAD 7.28
156.96%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$0.68 MAD 6.26
211.76%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$0.70 MAD 6.46
224.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$0.54 MAD 4.92
159.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$0.60 MAD 5.53
88.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$4.50 MAD 41.38
-5.11%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$9.61 MAD 88.3
61.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$3.25 MAD 29.90
-45.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$3.26 MAD 29.95
10.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.45 MAD 4.16
-15.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$16.55 MAD 152
15.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$0.52 MAD 4.82
165.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.48 MAD 4.39
-41.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$9.97 MAD 91.6
-45.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$1.62 MAD 14.85
-19.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$37.4K MAD 343.5K
-50.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$23.6K MAD 217.1K
-2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$82.7 MAD 760
-50.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$11.28 MAD 104
137.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$39.92 MAD 367
-24.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$28.60 MAD 263
81.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$39.05 MAD 359
-31.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$7.52 MAD 69.1
-16.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$96.9 MAD 890
350.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$6,455 MAD 59.3K
61.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$31.68 MAD 291
78.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$45.40 MAD 417
-2.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$86.9 MAD 799
18.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$83.9 MAD 771
25.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$440 MAD 4,047
132.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$237 MAD 2,182
165.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$881 MAD 8,092
142.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$441 MAD 4,048
182.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$1,884 MAD 17.3K
107.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$1,255 MAD 11.5K
64.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tangier
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$521 MAD 4,791
113.91%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tangier: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $440 in Tangier. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 114% 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 $30.00 in Tangier for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $214 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 Tangier?
Mexico City and Tangier differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $874 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?
Mexico City pays 114% 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 Tangier?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $440 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 Tangier?
A monthly transit pass in Tangier runs roughly 16% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $96.9 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 $874 in Tangier versus $1,467 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 68% 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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