🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $790 in Oued Zem versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,321 in Oued Zem versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,851 in Oued Zem versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Oued Zem costs roughly 46% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oued Zem is 41% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73MAD 44.34
$13.14MX$229
-64.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.2MAD 471
$53.5MX$934
-6.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.53MAD 61.3
$9.33MX$163
-30.01%
Cappuccino
$2.04MAD 19.17
$3.70MX$64.5
-44.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.90
$1.60MX$27.98
-60.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.48
$1.12MX$19.49
-66.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.62MAD 52.7
$3.14MX$54.7
78.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06MAD 38.05
$4.85MX$84.5
-16.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.66
$1.65MX$28.84
-50.30%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.42
$2.71MX$47.34
-82.66%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MAD 18.42
$1.91MX$33.29
2.62%
Eggs
$1.93MAD 18.13
$2.59MX$45.17
-25.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.18MAD 124
$9.81MX$171
34.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.90MAD 64.7
$8.43MX$147
-18.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.99MAD 113
$11.93MX$208
0.50%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58MAD 14.87
$2.95MX$51.5
-46.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44MAD 13.51
$1.74MX$30.35
-17.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.65
$2.04MX$35.66
-59.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.86MAD 8.08
$2.06MX$35.93
-58.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.29
$2.15MX$37.49
-68.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.27
$2.26MX$39.33
-70.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.96
$1.39MX$24.17
-69.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.60
$1.12MX$19.47
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.44MAD 41.71
$4.22MX$73.6
5.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.70MAD 72.3
$17.51MX$305
-56.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62MAD 24.60
$1.71MX$29.82
53.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55MAD 23.94
$3.63MX$63.4
-29.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.72
$0.35MX$6.15
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.19MAD 152
$19.32MX$337
-16.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.99
$1.38MX$24.00
-61.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.89MAD 8.32
$0.28MX$4.81
217.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.50MAD 42.22
$5.28MX$92.0
-14.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58MAD 14.79
$1.36MX$23.69
16.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0KMAD 347.0K
$19.1KMX$333.2K
93.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2KMAD 273.8K
$23.6KMX$411.7K
23.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.97MAD 384
$40.53MX$707
1.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.09MAD 104
$27.38MX$478
-59.50%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.78MAD 373
$30.38MX$530
30.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.64MAD 231
$52.2MX$911
-52.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.14MAD 217
$26.48MX$462
-12.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56MAD 61.6
$6.19MX$108
5.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160MAD 1,505
$425MX$7,414
-62.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,381MAD 59.9K
$10.7KMX$187.2K
-40.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.1MAD 498
$58.3MX$1,017
-8.97%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.44MAD 445
$44.57MX$777
6.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 1,005
$103MX$1,805
3.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8MAD 927
$109MX$1,897
-9.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$286MAD 2,684
$1,014MX$17.7K
-71.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$176MAD 1,655
$623MX$10.9K
-71.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$514MAD 4,819
$2,119MX$37.0K
-75.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MAD 2,910
$1,223MX$21.3K
-74.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,165MAD 10.9K
$3,792MX$66.1K
-69.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$932MAD 8,745
$2,110MX$36.8K
-55.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oued Zem
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$246MAD 2,311
$1,052MX$18.4K
-76.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.81
11.34
-57.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oued Zem: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $286 in Oued Zem and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 327% 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: $50.0 in Oued Zem vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $293 per month, with Oued Zem 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
Oued Zem vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oued Zem and in Mexico City?
Oued Zem and Mexico City differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($790 vs $1,472 including rent). Oued Zem 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 327% 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 Oued Zem and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $286 in Oued Zem versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oued Zem and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Oued Zem runs roughly 19% 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 Oued Zem and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $160 in Oued Zem versus $425 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $790 in Oued Zem versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Oued Zem but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Oued Zem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Oued Zem 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.
Is Oued Zem or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oued Zem 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.
Where should expats move: Oued Zem or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Oued Zem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.