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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $815 in Temara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,278 in Temara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,741 in Temara.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 82% more expensive than Temara, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Temara is 39% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$4.63 MAD 42.85
180.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$32.94 MAD 305
61.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$6.82 MAD 63.1
42.52%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$2.59 MAD 23.94
44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$0.64 MAD 5.96
145.31%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$0.41 MAD 3.78
175.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$5.44 MAD 50.3
-41.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$4.07 MAD 37.64
14.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$0.88 MAD 8.12
84.09%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$0.55 MAD 5.06
392.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$1.85 MAD 17.11
1.62%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$2.00 MAD 18.47
25.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$12.56 MAD 116
-19.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$6.10 MAD 56.4
35.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$11.07 MAD 102
7.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$1.50 MAD 13.87
90.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$1.38 MAD 12.77
26.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$0.81 MAD 7.54
156.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$0.83 MAD 7.70
137.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$0.79 MAD 7.28
173.42%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$0.76 MAD 7.01
186.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$0.43 MAD 3.98
223.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$0.62 MAD 5.76
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$4.20 MAD 38.89
-
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$7.95 MAD 73.6
79.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$2.74 MAD 25.30
-35.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$2.45 MAD 22.70
50.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$0.53 MAD 4.86
-26.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$16.92 MAD 157
10.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$0.91 MAD 8.44
52.75%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$0.78 MAD 7.17
-61.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$4.48 MAD 41.42
20.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$1.54 MAD 14.22
-12.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$37.2K MAD 344.0K
-49.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$29.6K MAD 273.8K
-21.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$38.69 MAD 358
5.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$11.09 MAD 103
147.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$40.94 MAD 379
-25.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$24.10 MAD 223
121.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$5.59 MAD 51.7
370.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$6.73 MAD 62.2
-6.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$136 MAD 1,256
221.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$2,357 MAD 21.8K
344.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$42.55 MAD 394
33.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$49.64 MAD 459
-9.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$108 MAD 1,000
-4.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$105 MAD 970
2.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$399 MAD 3,694
150.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$212 MAD 1,959
192.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$668 MAD 6,182
219.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$335 MAD 3,096
269.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$1,261 MAD 11.7K
206.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$915 MAD 8,463
154.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$343 MAD 3,176
210.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
4.75
138.74%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Temara: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $399 in Temara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 211% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $33.00 in Temara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $202 per month, with Temara 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 Temara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Temara?
Mexico City and Temara differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $815 including rent). Temara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Temara?
Mexico City pays 211% 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 Temara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $399 in Temara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Temara?
A monthly transit pass in Temara runs roughly 10% 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 Temara?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $136 in Temara. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $815 in Temara versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Temara but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Temara the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Temara?
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 Temara safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Temara 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 Temara?
Expats usually find Temara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% 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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