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: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $184 in Toliara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $273 in Toliara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $363 in Toliara.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 803% more expensive than in Toliara, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Toliara is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$205

$1.90 MGA 8,282

527.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$886

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$196

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.6

$0.84 MGA 3,658

375.00%

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

$1.66 MX$28.48

$0.66 MGA 2,873

151.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.77

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$101

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.21

$1.48 MGA 6,452

27.03%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$55.9

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.10

$0.39 MGA 1,702

453.85%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.72

$2.19 MGA 9,536

32.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$221

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$4.89 MGA 21.4K

105.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$272

$5.18 MGA 22.6K

206.18%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.6

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.44

$0.71 MGA 3,105

183.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.76

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.44

$1.81 MGA 7,880

30.39%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.27

$0.53 MGA 2,328

286.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.64

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$23.98

$0.72 MGA 3,135

94.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$93.8

$1.82 MGA 7,955

200.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$303

$5.94 MGA 25.9K

197.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.28

$0.72 MGA 3,133

186.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.4

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.81

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$357

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$35.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.60

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$99.8

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.56

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

$22.8K MX$392.1K

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

$26.8K MX$459.2K

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

$65.2 MX$1,119

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

$30.09 MX$517

$17.16 MGA 74.9K

75.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$638

$34.95 MGA 152.5K

6.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,026

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$456

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

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

$465 MX$7,976

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$227.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,303

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$960

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,920

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,068

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$18.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$35.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.8K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Toliara: September 13, 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 803% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $184 including rent). Toliara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $276 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 232% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $184 in Toliara – a 803% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $184 in Toliara versus $1,660 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 803% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.