🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $600 in Safi versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $938 in Safi versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,276 in Safi versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Safi costs roughly 64% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Safi is 56% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.25MAD 30.57
$12.14MX$206
-73.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.39MAD 201
$53.9MX$914
-60.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.89MAD 45.92
$11.09MX$188
-55.91%
Cappuccino
$1.63MAD 15.35
$4.10MX$69.5
-60.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.78
$1.68MX$28.53
-63.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.23
$1.39MX$23.55
-75.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56MAD 14.62
$3.33MX$56.5
-53.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58MAD 14.88
$5.88MX$99.7
-73.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.85MAD 7.96
$1.85MX$31.41
-54.05%
White Bread(500g)
$0.51MAD 4.82
$3.17MX$53.8
-83.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MAD 15.55
$2.07MX$35.13
-20.29%
Eggs
$1.77MAD 16.66
$2.93MX$49.67
-39.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.09MAD 66.6
$12.59MX$214
-43.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.96MAD 65.4
$10.11MX$172
-31.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11MAD 85.6
$16.09MX$273
-43.38%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.68
$3.39MX$57.5
-63.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18MAD 11.11
$2.08MX$35.26
-43.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.86MAD 8.05
$2.12MX$35.97
-59.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.96
$2.41MX$40.95
-69.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.24
$2.13MX$36.11
-69.01%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.55
$2.01MX$34.02
-60.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.66
$1.55MX$26.21
-74.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.37
$1.36MX$23.15
-58.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.92MAD 36.84
$5.77MX$97.8
-32.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81MAD 73.4
$17.74MX$301
-55.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00MAD 18.76
$2.07MX$35.11
-3.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90MAD 17.83
$4.61MX$78.3
-58.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.46MAD 4.31
$0.37MX$6.21
24.32%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.72MAD 101
$21.18MX$359
-49.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.74MAD 6.97
$2.05MX$34.84
-63.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.54MAD 5.09
$0.58MX$9.79
-6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.43MAD 60.5
$6.07MX$103
5.93%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.51MAD 14.16
$1.55MX$26.34
-2.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KMAD 327.8K
$22.9KMX$388.1K
52.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8KMAD 299.0K
$27.2KMX$462.0K
16.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$35.29MAD 332
$67.4MX$1,144
-47.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.51MAD 98.8
$30.62MX$520
-65.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.68MAD 316
$37.24MX$632
-9.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.91MAD 187
$61.5MX$1,043
-67.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.21MAD 48.99
$27.12MX$460
-80.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.65MAD 34.28
$7.11MX$121
-48.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$101MAD 950
$456MX$7,739
-77.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,743MAD 35.2K
$13.7KMX$232.3K
-72.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.96MAD 385
$74.2MX$1,259
-44.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.11MAD 330
$57.0MX$967
-38.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8MAD 862
$115MX$1,958
-20.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.95MAD 357
$122MX$2,061
-68.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$293MAD 2,751
$1,148MX$19.5K
-74.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140MAD 1,314
$709MX$12.0K
-80.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473MAD 4,449
$2,577MX$43.7K
-81.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246MAD 2,315
$1,295MX$22.0K
-80.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$929MAD 8,728
$4,005MX$67.9K
-76.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$574MAD 5,396
$2,130MX$36.1K
-73.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$462MAD 4,344
$1,082MX$18.4K
-57.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.52
11.3
-60.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Safi: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $293 in Safi and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 134% 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: $21.00 in Safi vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $345 per month, with Safi 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
Safi vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Safi and in Mexico City?
Safi and Mexico City differ by about 179% in total monthly costs ($600 vs $1,677 including rent). Safi 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 134% 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 Safi and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $293 in Safi versus $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Safi and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Safi runs roughly 98% 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 Safi and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $101 in Safi versus $456 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 $600 in Safi versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Safi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Safi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Safi 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 Safi or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Safi 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: Safi or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Safi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 179% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.