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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $177 in Toliara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $264 in Toliara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $352 in Toliara.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 729% more expensive than Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Toliara is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$1.80 MGA 7,536

632.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$0.81 MGA 3,386

338.27%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.65 MGA 2,705

149.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$1.41 MGA 5,909

20.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$0.41 MGA 1,707

365.85%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$2.14 MGA 8,975

18.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$4.53 MGA 19.0K

78.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$4.87 MGA 20.4K

138.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$0.69 MGA 2,893

162.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

$1.74 MGA 7,307

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

$0.48 MGA 1,998

341.67%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

$0.64 MGA 2,690

76.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$1.74 MGA 7,304

145.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

$6.03 MGA 25.3K

158.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$0.64 MGA 2,690

175.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

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

$40.86 MX$707

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

$26.81 MX$464

$16.78 MGA 70.3K

59.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$33.00 MGA 138.3K

-9.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

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

$436 MX$7,544

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Toliara: May 31, 2026

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 Toliara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Toliara differ by about 729% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $177 including rent). Toliara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $266 in Toliara to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 192% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $177 in Toliara – a 729% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $177 in Toliara versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Toliara but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Toliara 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 Toliara gentler on the wallet – expenses run 729% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.