🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $695 in Settat versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,131 in Settat versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,568 in Settat versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Settat costs roughly 52% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Settat is 48% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33MAD 31.15
$13.07MX$228
-74.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.22MAD 311
$53.8MX$936
-38.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.01MAD 65.6
$9.68MX$169
-27.58%
Cappuccino
$1.18MAD 11.06
$3.74MX$65.1
-68.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MAD 4.51
$1.62MX$28.13
-70.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36MAD 3.32
$1.16MX$20.23
-68.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28MAD 12.01
$3.23MX$56.2
-60.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MAD 15.50
$4.74MX$82.5
-64.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.84
$1.65MX$28.68
-49.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.54MAD 5.08
$2.75MX$47.95
-80.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77MAD 16.59
$1.87MX$32.63
-5.35%
Eggs
$2.08MAD 19.47
$2.50MX$43.54
-16.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.53MAD 89.2
$10.20MX$178
-6.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.15MAD 57.5
$8.25MX$144
-25.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.34MAD 106
$11.82MX$206
-4.06%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52MAD 14.24
$3.01MX$52.4
-49.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MAD 12.94
$1.81MX$31.54
-23.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.95MAD 8.89
$2.00MX$34.81
-52.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88MAD 8.27
$2.00MX$34.74
-56.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.31
$2.08MX$36.30
-62.50%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.86
$2.27MX$39.56
-67.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.42MAD 3.95
$1.46MX$25.36
-71.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.89
$1.08MX$18.74
-41.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.48MAD 41.92
$4.35MX$75.7
2.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.22MAD 76.9
$16.99MX$296
-51.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68MAD 25.11
$1.73MX$30.18
54.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08MAD 28.86
$3.58MX$62.3
-13.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.43MAD 4.00
$0.39MX$6.74
10.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.41MAD 154
$18.69MX$325
-12.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MAD 7.44
$1.33MX$23.08
-40.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MAD 4.50
$0.28MX$4.87
71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.61MAD 52.5
$5.25MX$91.5
6.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.32
$1.34MX$23.27
14.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.5KMAD 351.1K
$19.4KMX$338.0K
93.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.2KMAD 282.3K
$23.8KMX$415.0K
26.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.52MAD 201
$40.69MX$709
-47.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.52MAD 51.7
$26.87MX$468
-79.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.53MAD 426
$30.51MX$531
49.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.52MAD 183
$52.8MX$919
-63.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.22MAD 217
$26.65MX$464
-12.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52MAD 61.1
$6.51MX$113
0.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112MAD 1,044
$428MX$7,454
-73.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,248MAD 58.5K
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-40.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.37MAD 406
$57.3MX$997
-24.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.9MAD 476
$45.50MX$792
11.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$108MAD 1,010
$104MX$1,812
3.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103MAD 961
$108MX$1,878
-4.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MAD 2,620
$1,003MX$17.5K
-72.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,605
$623MX$10.8K
-72.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$505MAD 4,724
$2,109MX$36.7K
-76.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$301MAD 2,813
$1,218MX$21.2K
-75.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213MAD 1,993
$1,038MX$18.1K
-79.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
11.34
-58.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Settat: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Settat and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 387% 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: $33.00 in Settat vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $292 per month, with Settat 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
Settat vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Settat and in Mexico City?
Settat and Mexico City differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($695 vs $1,456 including rent). Settat 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 387% 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 Settat and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Settat versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Settat and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Settat runs roughly 14% 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 Settat and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $112 in Settat versus $428 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 $1,000 per month?
At $695 in Settat versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Settat but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Settat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Settat 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 Settat or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Settat 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: Settat or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Settat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.