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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $441 in Benin versus $1,677 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $745 in Benin versus $2,608 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,049 in Benin versus $3,540 in Mexico City.

Living in Benin costs roughly 74% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Benin is 68% below, Mexico City is 22% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 ₦1,825

$12.14 MX$206

-88.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.9 ₦67.5K

$53.9 MX$914

-5.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.78 ₦7,655

$11.09 MX$188

-47.88%

Cappuccino

$2.89 ₦3,831

$4.10 MX$69.5

-29.51%

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

$0.29 ₦388

$1.68 MX$28.53

-82.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.16 ₦218

$1.39 MX$23.55

-88.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.97 ₦1,291

$3.33 MX$56.5

-70.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 ₦1,342

$5.88 MX$99.7

-82.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.05 ₦4,039

$1.85 MX$31.41

64.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 ₦1,031

$3.17 MX$53.8

-75.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 ₦1,603

$2.07 MX$35.13

-41.55%

Eggs

$2.28 ₦3,019

$2.93 MX$49.67

-22.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.50 ₦4,644

$12.59 MX$214

-72.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.82 ₦5,064

$10.11 MX$172

-62.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.38 ₦5,799

$16.09 MX$273

-72.78%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 ₦2,243

$3.39 MX$57.5

-50.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 ₦1,673

$2.08 MX$35.26

-39.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.15 ₦1,526

$2.12 MX$35.97

-45.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.28 ₦1,693

$2.41 MX$40.95

-46.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 ₦1,760

$2.13 MX$36.11

-37.56%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 ₦1,756

$2.01 MX$34.02

-34.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 ₦1,134

$1.55 MX$26.21

-44.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 ₦489

$1.36 MX$23.15

-72.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$0.54 ₦719

$5.77 MX$97.8

-90.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$2.70 ₦3,583

$17.74 MX$301

-84.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₦723

$2.07 MX$35.11

-73.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 ₦619

$4.61 MX$78.3

-89.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.65 ₦856

$2.05 MX$34.84

-68.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.99 ₦1,307

$0.58 MX$9.79

70.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.22 ₦2,937

$6.07 MX$103

-63.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 ₦978

$1.55 MX$26.34

-52.26%

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

$11.5K ₦15.3M

$22.9K MX$388.1K

-49.53%

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

$13.6K ₦18.1M

$27.2K MX$462.0K

-49.98%

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

$112 ₦147.9K

$67.4 MX$1,144

65.54%

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

$16.10 ₦21.3K

$30.62 MX$520

-47.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.40 ₦42.9K

$37.24 MX$632

-13.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$4.80 ₦6,363

$7.11 MX$121

-32.49%

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

$661 ₦875.9K

$456 MX$7,739

44.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$20.0K ₦26.5M

$13.7K MX$232.3K

46.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$14.73 ₦19.5K

$74.2 MX$1,259

-80.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.08 ₦24.0K

$57.0 MX$967

-68.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$36.46 ₦48.3K

$115 MX$1,958

-68.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$49.61 ₦65.7K

$122 MX$2,061

-59.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$114 ₦150.9K

$1,082 MX$18.4K

-89.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

18.05

11.3

59.73%

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

Last update for Benin: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Mexico City pays 851% 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: $51.0 in Benin vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $146 vs $345 per month, with Benin 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

Benin vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Benin and Mexico City differ by about 280% in total monthly costs ($441 vs $1,677 including rent). Benin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 851% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Childcare runs $661 in Benin versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Benin – a meal for two runs $51.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $441 in Benin versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Benin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Benin 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.

Safety-wise, Benin and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Benin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 280% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.