🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $611 in Safi versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $958 in Safi versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,305 in Safi versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Safi costs roughly 58% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Safi is 54% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.76MAD 34.61
$13.18MX$228
-71.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.53MAD 152
$53.9MX$934
-69.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.64MAD 42.72
$9.42MX$163
-50.74%
Cappuccino
$1.96MAD 18.02
$3.55MX$61.5
-44.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.63
$1.62MX$28.03
-62.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31MAD 2.89
$1.11MX$19.31
-72.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67MAD 15.38
$3.12MX$54.1
-46.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MAD 14.87
$4.63MX$80.2
-65.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83MAD 7.64
$1.70MX$29.48
-51.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.47MAD 4.30
$2.72MX$47.10
-82.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49MAD 13.67
$1.91MX$33.13
-21.99%
Eggs
$1.92MAD 17.64
$2.54MX$43.94
-24.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.10MAD 65.3
$10.03MX$174
-29.21%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.91MAD 63.7
$8.09MX$140
-14.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.50MAD 87.5
$11.62MX$201
-18.24%
Apples(1kg)
$1.21MAD 11.15
$2.97MX$51.4
-59.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.44
$1.81MX$31.30
-31.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.83MAD 7.65
$2.01MX$34.88
-58.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.53
$2.03MX$35.26
-65.02%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64MAD 5.94
$2.12MX$36.82
-69.81%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.10
$2.27MX$39.32
-70.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 3.94
$1.40MX$24.26
-69.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.48
$1.13MX$19.59
-46.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.09MAD 37.63
$4.27MX$74.0
-4.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.98MAD 73.5
$15.56MX$270
-48.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03MAD 18.71
$1.76MX$30.44
15.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91MAD 17.59
$3.60MX$62.3
-46.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.33
$0.38MX$6.64
23.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.79MAD 99.3
$19.18MX$332
-43.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58MAD 5.30
$1.38MX$23.84
-57.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.43
$0.28MX$4.79
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.39MAD 58.8
$5.45MX$94.4
17.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.58MAD 14.53
$1.30MX$22.60
21.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.9KMAD 348.7K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
102.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMAD 272.3K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
27.85%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$29.75MAD 274
$40.86MX$708
-27.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93MAD 101
$26.81MX$465
-59.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.66MAD 374
$29.96MX$519
35.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.84MAD 201
$52.0MX$901
-58.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.39MAD 49.59
$26.84MX$465
-79.92%
Cinema Ticket
$3.87MAD 35.60
$6.30MX$109
-38.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$160MAD 1,470
$436MX$7,558
-63.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,763MAD 34.6K
$10.4KMX$180.5K
-63.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.95MAD 386
$56.7MX$982
-25.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.23MAD 324
$44.38MX$769
-20.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1MAD 894
$103MX$1,784
-5.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$38.73MAD 357
$106MX$1,829
-63.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$241MAD 2,218
$1,022MX$17.7K
-76.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138MAD 1,270
$631MX$10.9K
-78.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$453MAD 4,171
$2,136MX$37.0K
-78.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$237MAD 2,180
$1,243MX$21.5K
-80.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$946MAD 8,711
$3,903MX$67.6K
-75.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$592MAD 5,450
$2,064MX$35.8K
-71.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Safi
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$463MAD 4,259
$1,115MX$19.3K
-58.52%
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 Safi: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $241 in Safi and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 141% 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: $17.00 in Safi vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Safi and Mexico City differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($611 vs $1,467 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, Mexico City earns 141% less. 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $241 in Safi versus $1,022 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 Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Safi runs roughly 78% 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 $160 in Safi versus $436 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 $611 in Safi versus $1,467 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 140% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.