Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Toamasina Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Toamasina

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $435 in Toamasina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $704 in Toamasina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $973 in Toamasina.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 233% more expensive than Toamasina, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Toamasina is 68% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$2.73 MGA 11.5K

375.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$15.46 MGA 64.9K

240.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$4.57 MGA 19.2K

106.35%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.22 MGA 5,100

192.62%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.69 MGA 2,887

133.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.69 MGA 2,913

66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$0.81 MGA 3,380

288.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$1.09 MGA 4,575

345.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$0.92 MGA 3,871

84.78%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.68 MGA 2,873

288.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$0.64 MGA 2,702

196.87%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.85 MGA 7,742

37.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$10.43 MGA 43.8K

-3.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$6.85 MGA 28.7K

21.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$5.21 MGA 21.8K

122.07%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.41 MGA 5,915

114.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$0.86 MGA 3,596

98.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.34 MGA 5,641

52.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$0.81 MGA 3,409

154.32%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.48 MGA 2,028

329.17%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.68 MGA 2,853

219.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.32 MGA 1,322

337.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.50 MGA 2,087

124.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$1.71 MGA 7,195

150.88%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$0.89 MGA 3,733

87.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$1.13 MGA 4,743

226.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.32 MGA 1,339

18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$1.07 MGA 4,502

19.63%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K MX$325.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$402.7K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.02 MX$704

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.92 MX$462

$19.18 MGA 80.5K

40.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$67.6 MGA 283.8K

-56.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$22.48 MGA 94.3K

132.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$6.72 MGA 28.2K

-8.04%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$427 MX$7,331

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$8.63 MGA 36.2K

558.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$6.86 MGA 28.8K

553.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$54.4 MGA 228.4K

92.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$37.77 MGA 158.5K

180.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$131 MGA 548.3K

661.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$55.4 MGA 232.3K

1022.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$453 MGA 1.9M

369.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$136 MGA 569.5K

823.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$146 MGA 610.9K

660.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Toamasina: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $131 in Toamasina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 660% 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 $15.00 in Toamasina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $146 per month, with Toamasina 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 Toamasina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Toamasina differ by about 233% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $435 including rent). Toamasina is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Mexico City pays 660% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $131 in Toamasina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Toamasina – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $435 in Toamasina – a 233% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $435 in Toamasina versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Toamasina but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Toamasina the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Toamasina gentler on the wallet – expenses run 233% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.