😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,668 in Mexico City versus $688 in Tetouan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,034 in Tetouan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,557 in Mexico City versus $1,380 in Tetouan.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 143% more expensive than in Tetouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 24% above, Tetouan is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.03MX$213
$2.97MAD 28.45
305.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.8MX$934
$18.48MAD 177
185.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.69MX$207
$8.29MAD 79.5
41.01%
Cappuccino
$3.87MX$68.4
$1.88MAD 18.07
105.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75MX$30.94
$0.70MAD 6.73
150.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$24.65
$0.33MAD 3.13
321.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36MX$59.4
$2.56MAD 24.53
31.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.77MX$102
$3.17MAD 30.41
82.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.81MX$31.92
$1.00MAD 9.56
81.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.08MX$54.5
$0.25MAD 2.38
1132.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.65
$1.98MAD 18.95
7.58%
Eggs
$2.98MX$52.6
$1.68MAD 16.10
77.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.53MX$221
$5.79MAD 55.5
116.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.24MX$181
$7.07MAD 67.8
44.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.92MX$281
$12.69MAD 122
25.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$59.8
$1.66MAD 15.95
104.22%
Banana(1kg)
$2.11MX$37.24
$1.46MAD 13.97
44.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13MX$37.59
$0.86MAD 8.24
147.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.47MX$43.61
$0.85MAD 8.20
190.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04MX$36.03
$0.85MAD 8.17
140.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.59
$0.75MAD 7.17
168.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.59MX$28.15
$0.52MAD 5.03
205.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$23.50
$0.59MAD 5.67
125.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.49MX$97.0
$3.83MAD 36.73
43.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.52MX$310
$8.49MAD 81.5
106.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01MX$35.61
$2.25MAD 21.62
-10.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.8
$2.54MAD 24.33
86.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.94
$0.49MAD 4.75
-30.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.07MX$373
$12.67MAD 122
66.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$36.28
$0.70MAD 6.72
192.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.61MX$10.75
$1.16MAD 11.13
-47.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.70MX$101
$3.40MAD 32.61
67.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MX$28.09
$1.52MAD 14.60
4.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$404.6K
$35.0KMAD 335.8K
-34.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMX$466.2K
$31.7KMAD 303.6K
-16.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.2MX$1,135
$45.67MAD 438
40.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.42MX$520
$10.87MAD 104
170.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.83MX$651
$41.78MAD 401
-11.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.7MX$1,038
$15.22MAD 146
285.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.54MX$469
$12.02MAD 115
120.80%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95MX$123
$3.74MAD 35.85
85.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463MX$8,180
$48.49MAD 465
854.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$236.2K
$6,031MAD 57.8K
121.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.4MX$1,333
$18.42MAD 177
309.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.2MX$958
$46.48MAD 446
16.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$111MX$1,965
$56.4MAD 541
97.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,160
$65.2MAD 625
87.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,133MX$20.0K
$214MAD 2,053
429.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$698MX$12.3K
$164MAD 1,577
324.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,442MX$43.2K
$404MAD 3,876
504.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,303MX$23.0K
$255MAD 2,448
410.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,910MX$69.1K
$1,112MAD 10.7K
251.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,069MX$36.6K
$710MAD 6,811
191.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tetouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.6K
$417MAD 3,994
152.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.5
105.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 21, 2026
Last update for Tetouan: September 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,133 in Mexico City and $214 in Tetouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 153% 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 $18.00 in Tetouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $343 vs $189 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 143% in total monthly costs ($1,668 vs $688 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 153% 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: $1,133 in Mexico City versus $214 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 66% 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 $463 in Mexico City versus $48.49 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 $688 in Tetouan versus $1,668 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 143% 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