🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Tetouan versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,048 in Tetouan versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,402 in Tetouan versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Tetouan costs roughly 58% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tetouan is 50% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.16MAD 29.53
$12.11MX$206
-73.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.94MAD 177
$52.2MX$887
-63.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.43MAD 78.7
$10.90MX$185
-22.66%
Cappuccino
$1.83MAD 17.10
$4.05MX$68.8
-54.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78MAD 7.25
$1.72MX$29.13
-54.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.14
$1.38MX$23.40
-75.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63MAD 24.57
$3.47MX$58.9
-24.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31MAD 30.88
$5.81MX$98.7
-43.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03MAD 9.63
$1.85MX$31.48
-44.32%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28MAD 2.62
$3.22MX$54.7
-91.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00MAD 18.70
$2.09MX$35.42
-4.31%
Eggs
$1.74MAD 16.26
$2.91MX$49.41
-40.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.97MAD 55.8
$12.49MX$212
-52.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43MAD 69.3
$10.11MX$172
-26.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.03MAD 122
$15.89MX$270
-18.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.63MAD 15.20
$3.31MX$56.3
-50.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51MAD 14.10
$2.13MX$36.12
-29.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.91MAD 8.54
$2.19MX$37.20
-58.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.84MAD 7.88
$2.45MX$41.57
-65.71%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91MAD 8.46
$2.19MX$37.18
-58.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.45
$1.90MX$32.35
-57.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.50MAD 4.66
$1.62MX$27.44
-69.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.75
$1.35MX$22.92
-54.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86MAD 36.08
$5.43MX$92.1
-28.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.05MAD 84.5
$17.59MX$299
-48.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29MAD 21.38
$2.07MX$35.12
10.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.52MAD 23.50
$4.75MX$80.6
-46.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.80
$0.34MX$5.77
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.05MAD 122
$21.58MX$366
-39.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.83
$2.04MX$34.65
-64.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.14MAD 10.62
$0.58MX$9.82
96.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.52MAD 32.87
$5.97MX$101
-41.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.52MAD 14.24
$1.62MX$27.44
-6.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KMAD 324.6K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
52.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0KMAD 298.7K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
20.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.20MAD 431
$65.2MX$1,108
-29.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.90MAD 102
$29.87MX$507
-63.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$42.81MAD 400
$36.55MX$621
17.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.36MAD 143
$61.0MX$1,036
-74.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.47MAD 116
$26.70MX$453
-53.30%
Cinema Ticket
$3.80MAD 35.51
$6.85MX$116
-44.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.91MAD 457
$453MX$7,700
-89.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,094MAD 56.9K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-54.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.44MAD 172
$75.0MX$1,273
-75.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.29MAD 451
$55.3MX$939
-12.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.1MAD 533
$114MX$1,929
-49.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.4MAD 639
$123MX$2,083
-44.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$213MAD 1,993
$1,134MX$19.3K
-81.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$173MAD 1,610
$712MX$12.1K
-75.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$424MAD 3,962
$2,571MX$43.7K
-83.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267MAD 2,492
$1,311MX$22.3K
-79.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,122MAD 10.5K
$3,993MX$67.8K
-71.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$718MAD 6,702
$2,095MX$35.6K
-65.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$418MAD 3,901
$1,047MX$17.8K
-60.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.5
11.3
-51.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tetouan: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $213 in Tetouan and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 151% 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: $19.00 in Tetouan vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $345 per month, with Tetouan 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
Tetouan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tetouan and in Mexico City?
Tetouan and Mexico City differ by about 138% in total monthly costs ($693 vs $1,646 including rent). Tetouan 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 151% 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 Tetouan and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $213 in Tetouan 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 Tetouan and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 65% 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 Tetouan and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $48.91 in Tetouan 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 $1,500 per month?
At $693 in Tetouan versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tetouan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tetouan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tetouan 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 Tetouan or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tetouan 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: Tetouan or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Tetouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 138% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.