😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $654 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $970 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,287 in Tetouan.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 124% more expensive than Tetouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Tetouan is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.26MAD 30.04
304.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$18.97MAD 175
184.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.16MAD 65.9
31.56%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.73MAD 15.90
105.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.66MAD 6.05
145.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.33MAD 3.00
236.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.68MAD 24.72
16.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$3.24MAD 29.79
42.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$0.87MAD 8.01
95.40%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.25MAD 2.28
988.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$1.55MAD 14.24
23.23%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.80MAD 16.60
41.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$4.65MAD 42.78
115.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.58MAD 51.3
44.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$10.45MAD 96.2
11.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.24MAD 11.45
139.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.30MAD 11.97
39.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$0.72MAD 6.65
179.17%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$0.75MAD 6.90
170.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.65MAD 5.99
226.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.67MAD 6.17
238.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.45MAD 4.17
211.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.65MAD 5.95
73.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$4.04MAD 37.15
5.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$8.91MAD 82.0
74.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.75MAD 16.07
0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$2.06MAD 18.92
74.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.47MAD 4.29
-19.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$13.34MAD 123
43.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.53MAD 4.88
160.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$1.07MAD 9.85
-73.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$3.42MAD 31.53
59.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.56MAD 14.36
-16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$37.1KMAD 341.5K
-49.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$24.5KMAD 225.2K
-5.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$42.41MAD 390
-3.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$10.21MAD 94.0
162.59%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$40.02MAD 368
-25.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$14.08MAD 130
269.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$12.55MAD 116
113.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$3.87MAD 35.63
62.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$44.65MAD 411
876.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$5,150MAD 47.4K
102.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$19.27MAD 177
193.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$46.66MAD 430
-4.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$59.5MAD 548
73.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$68.9MAD 634
53.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$217MAD 1,999
370.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$183MAD 1,687
244.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$478MAD 4,404
346.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$273MAD 2,517
354.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$1,160MAD 10.7K
236.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$807MAD 7,425
155.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$429MAD 3,953
159.68%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $217 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 160% 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 $288 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 Tetouan?
Mexico City and Tetouan differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $654 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?
Mexico City pays 160% 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 Tetouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $217 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 Tetouan?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 44% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $44.65 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 $654 in Tetouan versus $1,467 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 124% 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