😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $660 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $983 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,306 in Tetouan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 121% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Tetouan is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$3.24MAD 30.17
303.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$19.15MAD 179
180.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$7.14MAD 66.6
35.57%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$1.64MAD 15.33
128.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.66MAD 6.18
145.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.35MAD 3.30
231.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$2.72MAD 25.33
18.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$3.26MAD 30.36
45.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$0.88MAD 8.21
87.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.27MAD 2.54
918.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.61MAD 14.99
16.15%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.81MAD 16.85
38.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$4.47MAD 41.66
128.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$5.37MAD 50.1
53.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$10.50MAD 97.9
12.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$1.29MAD 11.98
133.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.37MAD 12.78
32.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$0.77MAD 7.18
159.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$0.79MAD 7.37
153.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$0.64MAD 5.96
225.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.72MAD 6.75
215.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.46MAD 4.30
217.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.64MAD 5.97
68.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$4.03MAD 37.54
7.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$8.61MAD 80.3
97.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.82MAD 16.94
-4.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.08MAD 19.37
72.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.47MAD 4.39
-17.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$13.34MAD 124
40.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$0.57MAD 5.36
133.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.02MAD 9.48
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$3.55MAD 33.09
47.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.55MAD 14.42
-13.55%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$36.7KMAD 341.8K
-47.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$24.0KMAD 224.0K
-0.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$42.68MAD 398
-4.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$10.03MAD 93.5
167.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$39.41MAD 367
-22.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$13.93MAD 130
278.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$12.53MAD 117
112.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$4.00MAD 37.30
62.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$44.72MAD 417
857.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$5,154MAD 48.1K
103.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$18.54MAD 173
208.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$46.91MAD 437
-3.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$58.1MAD 542
79.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$70.8MAD 660
52.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$218MAD 2,035
359.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$186MAD 1,737
234.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$470MAD 4,379
349.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$275MAD 2,569
342.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$1,106MAD 10.3K
251.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$783MAD 7,304
159.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$425MAD 3,963
144.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.35
160.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $218 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 144% 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 $19.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $162 per month, with Tetouan 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 Tetouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Tetouan?
Mexico City and Tetouan differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $660 including rent). Tetouan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Tetouan?
Average pay runs 144% 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 Tetouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $218 in Tetouan. 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 Tetouan?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 40% 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 Tetouan?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $44.72 in Tetouan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $660 in Tetouan versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tetouan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tetouan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Tetouan?
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 Tetouan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tetouan 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 Tetouan?
Expats usually find Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% 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