🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Settat versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,026 in Settat versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,386 in Settat versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Settat costs roughly 60% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Settat is 52% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.20MAD 29.90
$12.11MX$205
-73.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.56MAD 305
$52.2MX$883
-37.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.56MAD 61.4
$10.90MX$184
-39.82%
Cappuccino
$1.15MAD 10.75
$4.05MX$68.5
-71.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47MAD 4.40
$1.72MX$28.99
-72.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MAD 3.52
$1.38MX$23.28
-72.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.27MAD 11.88
$3.47MX$58.6
-63.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65MAD 15.44
$5.81MX$98.2
-71.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89MAD 8.36
$1.85MX$31.32
-51.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86MAD 8.06
$3.22MX$54.5
-73.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62MAD 15.18
$2.09MX$35.24
-22.49%
Eggs
$2.00MAD 18.68
$2.91MX$49.16
-31.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.03MAD 75.1
$12.49MX$211
-35.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.48MAD 51.3
$10.11MX$171
-45.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.02MAD 112
$15.89MX$269
-24.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.68MAD 15.76
$3.31MX$56.0
-49.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49MAD 13.92
$2.13MX$35.94
-30.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.99MAD 9.26
$2.19MX$37.02
-54.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.24
$2.45MX$41.36
-68.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.00
$2.19MX$36.99
-65.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.53
$1.90MX$32.19
-57.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26MAD 2.44
$1.62MX$27.30
-83.95%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52MAD 4.88
$1.35MX$22.81
-61.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.32MAD 40.43
$5.43MX$91.7
-20.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.21MAD 76.8
$17.59MX$297
-53.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31MAD 21.63
$2.07MX$34.95
11.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45MAD 32.30
$4.75MX$80.2
-27.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42MAD 3.91
$0.34MX$5.74
23.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.60MAD 99.2
$21.58MX$365
-50.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.79MAD 7.35
$2.04MX$34.48
-61.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.68MAD 6.34
$0.58MX$9.77
17.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37MAD 69.0
$5.97MX$101
23.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.57MAD 14.73
$1.62MX$27.30
-3.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.2KMAD 328.9K
$22.8KMX$385.5K
54.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KMAD 285.4K
$26.7KMX$450.6K
14.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$21.41MAD 200
$65.2MX$1,102
-67.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.45MAD 51.0
$29.87MX$505
-81.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.95MAD 355
$36.55MX$618
3.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.52MAD 183
$61.0MX$1,031
-68.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.78MAD 101
$26.70MX$451
-59.63%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66MAD 62.3
$6.85MX$116
-2.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106MAD 991
$453MX$7,662
-76.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,646MAD 80.9K
$13.4KMX$226.0K
-35.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.76MAD 306
$75.0MX$1,267
-56.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.54MAD 445
$55.3MX$934
-14.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.4MAD 790
$114MX$1,920
-25.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5MAD 818
$123MX$2,073
-28.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219MAD 2,046
$1,134MX$19.2K
-80.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$162MAD 1,514
$712MX$12.0K
-77.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$870MAD 8,138
$2,571MX$43.4K
-66.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235MAD 2,197
$1,311MX$22.2K
-82.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Settat
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$220MAD 2,054
$1,047MX$17.7K
-79.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.3
-69.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Settat: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Settat and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 377% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $345 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 147% in total monthly costs ($666 vs $1,646 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 377% 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: $219 in Settat versus $1,134 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 104% 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 $106 in Settat versus $453 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 $666 in Settat versus $1,646 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 147% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.