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: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $176 in Toliara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $267 in Toliara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $357 in Toliara.

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

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Toliara is 87% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$1.82 MGA 7,804

618.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$0.80 MGA 3,415

367.50%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.64 MGA 2,733

153.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$1.35 MGA 5,804

22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$0.38 MGA 1,626

392.11%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$2.15 MGA 9,235

16.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$4.60 MGA 19.7K

79.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$4.74 MGA 20.4K

149.37%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$0.66 MGA 2,829

174.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$1.67 MGA 7,174

19.76%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$0.49 MGA 2,095

324.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.68 MGA 2,939

58.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$1.80 MGA 7,715

141.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

$5.80 MGA 24.9K

192.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

$0.64 MGA 2,765

170.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

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

$40.69 MX$709

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

$26.87 MX$468

$16.52 MGA 70.9K

62.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$33.66 MGA 144.4K

-9.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

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

$428 MX$7,454

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Toliara: July 12, 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 ($1,456 vs $176 including rent). Toliara is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $264 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 199% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $176 in Toliara – a 729% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $176 in Toliara versus $1,456 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.