😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $831 in Temara.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,269 in Temara.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,706 in Temara.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 77% more expensive than in Temara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Temara is 38% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$4.72MAD 44.29
178.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
$33.41MAD 314
60.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
$6.51MAD 61.1
43.32%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$2.47MAD 23.17
49.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$0.68MAD 6.36
135.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.38MAD 3.53
194.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$5.53MAD 51.9
-43.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$4.18MAD 39.20
16.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$0.87MAD 8.12
89.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$0.55MAD 5.15
392.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$1.77MAD 16.59
7.91%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$2.03MAD 19.03
27.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
$12.97MAD 122
-24.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$6.04MAD 56.7
39.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
$11.41MAD 107
4.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.58MAD 14.86
86.71%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$1.39MAD 13.08
25.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$0.83MAD 7.75
145.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$0.89MAD 8.30
131.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$0.74MAD 6.94
190.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$0.76MAD 7.12
197.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
$0.43MAD 4.03
223.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.59MAD 5.56
89.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
$4.23MAD 39.72
-0.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$8.01MAD 75.1
118.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$2.70MAD 25.29
-36.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$2.46MAD 23.12
47.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
$0.53MAD 4.93
-33.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
$16.74MAD 157
15.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
$0.84MAD 7.92
64.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
$0.81MAD 7.64
-65.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$4.51MAD 42.30
17.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$1.54MAD 14.44
-11.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$37.5KMAD 352.3K
-49.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$29.8KMAD 279.5K
-20.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$38.53MAD 362
5.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$10.96MAD 103
149.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$39.42MAD 370
-22.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
$23.84MAD 224
119.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
$5.33MAD 50.0
396.81%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
$6.64MAD 62.3
-6.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
$138MAD 1,293
208.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
$2,361MAD 22.2K
354.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$42.13MAD 395
38.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$50.3MAD 471
-11.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$106MAD 994
-2.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$105MAD 988
3.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
$406MAD 3,813
149.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$205MAD 1,923
203.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
$688MAD 6,455
208.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
$332MAD 3,117
268.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$1,239MAD 11.6K
206.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
$972MAD 9,121
117.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Temara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
$244MAD 2,291
330.86%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Temara: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $406 in Temara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 331% 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 $33.00 in Temara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $204 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 77% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $831 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 331% 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $406 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 15% 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 $425 in Mexico City versus $138 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 $831 in Temara versus $1,472 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