🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,228 in Ouagadougou versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,025 in Ouagadougou versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,823 in Ouagadougou versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ouagadougou costs roughly 27% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ouagadougou is 11% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.41F CFA 4,188
$12.14MX$206
-38.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.85F CFA 15.2K
$53.9MX$914
-50.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56F CFA 4,274
$11.09MX$188
-31.83%
Cappuccino
$2.11F CFA 1,192
$4.10MX$69.5
-48.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13F CFA 639
$1.68MX$28.53
-32.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10F CFA 619
$1.39MX$23.55
-20.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23F CFA 693
$3.33MX$56.5
-63.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.59F CFA 1,462
$5.88MX$99.7
-55.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.04F CFA 1,153
$1.85MX$31.41
10.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13F CFA 639
$3.17MX$53.8
-64.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87F CFA 494
$2.07MX$35.13
-57.97%
Eggs
$2.61F CFA 1,473
$2.93MX$49.67
-10.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.51F CFA 9,894
$12.59MX$214
39.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$20.94F CFA 11.8K
$10.11MX$172
107.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74F CFA 8,896
$16.09MX$273
-2.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.88F CFA 2,759
$3.39MX$57.5
43.95%
Banana(1kg)
-
$2.08MX$35.26
-
Oranges(1kg)
$3.47F CFA 1,963
$2.12MX$35.97
63.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.88F CFA 2,193
$2.41MX$40.95
61.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59F CFA 899
$2.13MX$36.11
-25.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80F CFA 1,015
$2.01MX$34.02
-10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37F CFA 772
$1.55MX$26.21
-11.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.38F CFA 780
$1.36MX$23.15
1.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.39F CFA 786
$5.77MX$97.8
-75.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.23F CFA 3,519
$17.74MX$301
-64.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.45F CFA 817
$2.07MX$35.11
-29.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63F CFA 1,486
$4.61MX$78.3
-42.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.20F CFA 114
$0.37MX$6.21
-45.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.18MX$359
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51F CFA 288
$2.05MX$34.84
-75.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.88F CFA 496
$0.58MX$9.79
51.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.79F CFA 4,966
$6.07MX$103
44.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49F CFA 844
$1.55MX$26.34
-3.87%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.6KF CFA 21.8M
$22.9KMX$388.1K
68.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KF CFA 18.2M
$27.2KMX$462.0K
18.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184F CFA 103.9K
$67.4MX$1,144
172.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.98F CFA 15.2K
$30.62MX$520
-11.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.2F CFA 31.2K
$37.24MX$632
48.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.8F CFA 34.9K
$61.5MX$1,043
0.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.68F CFA 4,907
$27.12MX$460
-67.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.94F CFA 3,923
$7.11MX$121
-2.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$36.13F CFA 20.4K
$456MX$7,739
-92.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,178F CFA 3.5M
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-54.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.07F CFA 19.8K
$74.2MX$1,259
-52.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.7F CFA 30.3K
$57.0MX$967
-5.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.0F CFA 50.9K
$115MX$1,958
-22.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106F CFA 59.9K
$122MX$2,061
-12.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$347F CFA 196.3K
$1,148MX$19.5K
-69.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$238F CFA 134.2K
$709MX$12.0K
-66.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,398F CFA 790.2K
$2,577MX$43.7K
-45.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$756F CFA 427.3K
$1,295MX$22.0K
-41.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$887F CFA 501.1K
$4,005MX$67.9K
-77.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$261F CFA 147.5K
$2,130MX$36.1K
-87.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouagadougou
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$612F CFA 345.7K
$1,082MX$18.4K
-43.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
11.3
6.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ouagadougou: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $347 in Ouagadougou and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 77% 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: $27.00 in Ouagadougou vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $363 vs $345, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Ouagadougou vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ouagadougou and in Mexico City?
Ouagadougou and Mexico City differ by about 37% in total monthly costs ($1,228 vs $1,677 including rent). Ouagadougou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 77% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Ouagadougou and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $347 in Ouagadougou versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ouagadougou and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $36.13 in Ouagadougou versus $456 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ouagadougou – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,228 in Ouagadougou versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ouagadougou but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ouagadougou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ouagadougou and Mexico City?
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: Ouagadougou or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Ouagadougou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ouagadougou vs other spots: cost of living compared