đMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $602 in Tebessa.
đEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $984 in Tebessa.
đMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,366 in Tebessa.
đLiving in Mexico City is roughly 146% more expensive than Tebessa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
đThe two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Tebessa is 55% below.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.13DZDÂ 414
314.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$29.88DZDÂ 3,959
77.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.94DZDÂ 522
146.70%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$0.72DZDÂ 94.9
420.83%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.88DZDÂ 117
78.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.23DZDÂ 30.56
391.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.00DZDÂ 265
59.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.43DZDÂ 322
91.77%
đ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.99DZDÂ 131
63.64%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.15DZDÂ 20.30
1706.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.63DZDÂ 216
15.34%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.81DZDÂ 239
38.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.92DZDÂ 1,182
13.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.37DZDÂ 712
54.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$16.46DZDÂ 2,181
-27.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.12DZDÂ 413
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.84DZDÂ 377
-38.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.77DZDÂ 234
17.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.74DZDÂ 98.2
166.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.59DZDÂ 78.6
266.10%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.49DZDÂ 65.6
344.90%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.65DZDÂ 86.5
113.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.30DZDÂ 39.97
273.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.73DZDÂ 362
53.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$6.09DZDÂ 807
133.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.30DZDÂ 172
35.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.16DZDÂ 286
70.37%
đ Getting Around
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.23DZDÂ 30.37
69.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$17.59DZDÂ 2,330
6.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.71DZDÂ 94.2
95.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.36DZDÂ 47.71
-16.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.38DZDÂ 713
0.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.36DZDÂ 48.07
275.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$32.0KDZDÂ 4.2M
-41.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$33.0KDZDÂ 4.4M
-29.81%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$41.25DZDÂ 5,466
-1.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$9.18DZDÂ 1,216
199.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$17.13DZDÂ 2,270
77.35%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$23.35DZDÂ 3,094
128.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.50DZDÂ 729
14.00%
𧸠Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$96.0DZDÂ 12.7K
354.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,613DZDÂ 478.7K
189.74%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$36.79DZDÂ 4,875
54.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$45.64DZDÂ 6,047
-1.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$73.8DZDÂ 9,780
39.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$76.9DZDÂ 10.2K
40.35%
đ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$191DZDÂ 25.3K
423.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$117DZDÂ 15.5K
431.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$269DZDÂ 35.7K
693.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$181DZDÂ 24.0K
581.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,009DZDÂ 133.7K
283.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$578DZDÂ 76.5K
303.77%
đľ Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tebessa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tebessa: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $191 in Tebessa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
đDining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $30.00 in Tebessa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $204 per month, with Tebessa 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 Tebessa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Tebessa?
Mexico City and Tebessa differ by about 146% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $602 including rent). Tebessa is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Tebessa?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $903 in Tebessa 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Tebessa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $191 in Tebessa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Tebessa?
A monthly transit pass in Tebessa runs roughly 6% 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 Tebessa?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $96.0 in Tebessa. 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 $602 in Tebessa versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Tebessa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tebessa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tebessa?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Tebessa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tebessa 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 Tebessa?
Expats usually find Tebessa gentler on the wallet â expenses run 146% 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