😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $773 in Temara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,192 in Temara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,611 in Temara.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 117% more expensive than in Temara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Temara is 44% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$4.22MAD 39.64
187.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$916
$31.47MAD 296
71.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$6.54MAD 61.5
69.57%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.6
$1.90MAD 17.85
115.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.57
$0.64MAD 6.00
162.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.58
$0.37MAD 3.49
275.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.6
$5.19MAD 48.80
-35.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.9
$3.24MAD 30.42
81.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.45
$0.93MAD 8.75
98.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.9
$0.85MAD 7.97
272.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.18
$1.62MAD 15.24
27.78%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.74
$2.06MAD 19.37
42.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$9.68MAD 91.0
30.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$5.52MAD 51.9
83.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$11.89MAD 112
35.32%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.6
$1.62MAD 15.21
109.26%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.31
$1.41MAD 13.23
47.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.02
$0.91MAD 8.54
132.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$41.01
$0.92MAD 8.61
161.96%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.17
$0.74MAD 6.97
187.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.07
$0.85MAD 7.97
136.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.25
$0.28MAD 2.65
453.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.19
$0.60MAD 5.61
126.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$98.0
$4.17MAD 39.20
38.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$7.70MAD 72.4
130.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.16
$2.30MAD 21.65
-10.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.4
$2.66MAD 25.04
73.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.55MAD 5.16
-32.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$360
$25.43MAD 239
-16.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.89
$0.81MAD 7.60
153.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.80
$0.95MAD 8.90
-38.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$4.31MAD 40.49
40.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.58MAD 14.85
-1.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.6K
$34.9KMAD 328.2K
-34.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.7K
$31.5KMAD 295.9K
-13.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,145
$36.22MAD 340
86.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$10.37MAD 97.4
195.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$633
$37.81MAD 355
-1.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,044
$24.32MAD 229
152.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$461
$5.47MAD 51.4
395.80%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$6.30MAD 59.2
12.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,750
$119MAD 1,118
283.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.6K
$7,071MAD 66.4K
93.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,260
$32.67MAD 307
127.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$969
$45.97MAD 432
24.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,961
$86.9MAD 817
32.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,064
$83.4MAD 784
45.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$263MAD 2,467
337.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.1K
$205MAD 1,931
245.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.8K
$420MAD 3,949
513.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$320MAD 3,012
304.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$68.0K
$1,267MAD 11.9K
216.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.2K
$975MAD 9,165
118.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$245MAD 2,298
342.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.5
222.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Temara: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $263 in Temara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 343% 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 Temara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $194 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 in Temara?
Mexico City and Temara differ by about 117% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $773 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?
Average pay runs 343% 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 Temara?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $263 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 in Temara?
A monthly transit pass in Temara runs roughly 20% 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 $456 in Mexico City versus $119 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 $773 in Temara versus $1,677 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 117% 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