😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $818 in Temara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,274 in Temara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,730 in Temara.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 77% more expensive than Temara, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Temara is 39% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$4.57MAD 42.25
184.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$32.33MAD 299
62.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$6.56MAD 60.7
43.75%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$2.51MAD 23.19
42.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.64MAD 5.92
151.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.37MAD 3.43
210.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$5.37MAD 49.65
-41.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$4.02MAD 37.15
20.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$0.86MAD 7.98
97.67%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.54MAD 5.04
388.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.75MAD 16.19
8.57%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.09MAD 19.34
21.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$12.81MAD 119
-21.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.02MAD 55.7
37.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$11.04MAD 102
4.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.51MAD 13.97
100.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.38MAD 12.74
23.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$0.82MAD 7.62
150.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.89MAD 8.23
131.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.74MAD 6.89
178.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.74MAD 6.82
193.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.39MAD 3.61
258.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.64MAD 5.91
75.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$4.28MAD 39.55
0.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$7.98MAD 73.8
93.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$2.74MAD 25.34
-39.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$2.47MAD 22.83
49.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.57MAD 5.29
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$16.68MAD 154
14.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.91MAD 8.39
51.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.78MAD 7.24
-64.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$4.28MAD 39.59
26.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.51MAD 14.01
-15.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$36.7KMAD 339.4K
-48.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$30.0KMAD 277.4K
-21.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$38.51MAD 356
6.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$10.68MAD 98.8
152.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$39.36MAD 364
-24.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$23.62MAD 219
121.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$5.51MAD 51.0
376.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$6.48MAD 59.9
-4.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$134MAD 1,242
218.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$2,339MAD 21.6K
357.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$43.41MAD 402
30.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$49.40MAD 457
-9.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$107MAD 991
-2.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$103MAD 954
2.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$404MAD 3,740
146.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$211MAD 1,956
193.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$685MAD 6,336
210.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$335MAD 3,098
274.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,238MAD 11.5K
215.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$917MAD 8,487
128.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$243MAD 2,250
355.19%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Temara: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $404 in Temara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 355% 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 $32.00 in Temara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 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 77% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $818 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 355% 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: $995 in Mexico City versus $404 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 14% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $134 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 $818 in Temara versus $1,447 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 77% 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