😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $725 in Yaounde.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,195 in Yaounde.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,665 in Yaounde.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 102% more expensive than Yaounde, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Yaounde is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$230
$4.87FCFA 2,769
170.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$941
$43.99FCFA 25.0K
22.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$165
$5.80FCFA 3,298
62.41%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$62.0
$2.59FCFA 1,474
37.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.25
$1.48FCFA 840
9.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.46
$0.69FCFA 394
60.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.5
$1.17FCFA 667
166.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$1.72FCFA 978
169.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.71
$2.83FCFA 1,612
-39.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.47
$0.99FCFA 563
174.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.39
$1.11FCFA 629
72.07%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.28
$1.83FCFA 1,042
38.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$175
$13.96FCFA 7,944
-28.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$141
$6.32FCFA 3,596
28.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$203
$5.98FCFA 3,401
94.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.8
$4.63FCFA 2,636
-35.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.10FCFA 1,192
-13.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.15
$2.06FCFA 1,171
-2.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.53
$1.19FCFA 677
70.59%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$37.10
$1.61FCFA 913
31.68%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.63
$1.46FCFA 829
55.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.45
$0.57FCFA 327
145.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.74
$1.00FCFA 567
13.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.6
$1.73FCFA 986
146.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$272
$8.78FCFA 4,994
77.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.23FCFA 700
43.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.8
$1.60FCFA 913
125.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.69
$0.60FCFA 339
-36.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$335
$17.76FCFA 10.1K
8.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.02
$0.65FCFA 368
112.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.38FCFA 217
-26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$95.1
$5.60FCFA 3,184
-2.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$1.35FCFA 767
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$326.3K
$33.1KFCFA 18.8M
-43.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$403.9K
$16.2KFCFA 9.2M
43.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$714
$79.3FCFA 45.1K
-48.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$468
$21.48FCFA 12.2K
24.81%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$523
$46.79FCFA 26.6K
-35.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$908
$26.01FCFA 14.8K
100.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$469
$7.26FCFA 4,128
269.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$110
$6.54FCFA 3,722
-3.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,616
$346FCFA 196.8K
26.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$181.9K
$1,832FCFA 1.0M
468.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$989
$16.69FCFA 9,495
239.42%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$775
$23.83FCFA 13.6K
86.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,797
$19.67FCFA 11.2K
423.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,843
$58.2FCFA 33.1K
81.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.8K
$153FCFA 86.9K
569.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$11.0K
$118FCFA 67.1K
435.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.3K
$503FCFA 286.0K
324.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.7K
$256FCFA 145.8K
385.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
$887FCFA 504.5K
340.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$36.0K
$626FCFA 356.2K
229.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Yaounde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.5K
$189FCFA 107.6K
489.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6
89.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yaounde: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $153 in Yaounde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 490% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $44.00 in Yaounde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $240 per month, with Yaounde 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 Yaounde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Yaounde?
Mexico City and Yaounde differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $725 including rent). Yaounde is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Yaounde?
Mexico City pays 490% more on average, 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 Yaounde?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $153 in Yaounde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Yaounde?
A monthly transit pass in Yaounde runs roughly 8% 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 Yaounde?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $346 in Yaounde. 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 $725 in Yaounde versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yaounde but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yaounde the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Yaounde?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Yaounde?
Expats usually find Yaounde gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% 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