🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Tetouan versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $970 in Tetouan versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,287 in Tetouan versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Tetouan costs roughly 55% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Tetouan is 51% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26MAD 30.04
$13.18MX$228
-75.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.97MAD 175
$53.9MX$934
-64.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.16MAD 65.9
$9.42MX$163
-23.99%
Cappuccino
$1.73MAD 15.90
$3.55MX$61.5
-51.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.05
$1.62MX$28.03
-59.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.00
$1.11MX$19.31
-70.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68MAD 24.72
$3.12MX$54.1
-14.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24MAD 29.79
$4.63MX$80.2
-30.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.01
$1.70MX$29.48
-48.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.25MAD 2.28
$2.72MX$47.10
-90.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.24
$1.91MX$33.13
-18.85%
Eggs
$1.80MAD 16.60
$2.54MX$43.94
-29.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.65MAD 42.78
$10.03MX$174
-53.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.58MAD 51.3
$8.09MX$140
-31.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.45MAD 96.2
$11.62MX$201
-10.07%
Apples(1kg)
$1.24MAD 11.45
$2.97MX$51.4
-58.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30MAD 11.97
$1.81MX$31.30
-28.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.65
$2.01MX$34.88
-64.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 6.90
$2.03MX$35.26
-63.05%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65MAD 5.99
$2.12MX$36.82
-69.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.67MAD 6.17
$2.27MX$39.32
-70.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45MAD 4.17
$1.40MX$24.26
-67.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.65MAD 5.95
$1.13MX$19.59
-42.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04MAD 37.15
$4.27MX$74.0
-5.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.91MAD 82.0
$15.56MX$270
-42.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75MAD 16.07
$1.76MX$30.44
-0.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06MAD 18.92
$3.60MX$62.3
-42.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.29
$0.38MX$6.64
23.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.34MAD 123
$19.18MX$332
-30.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.88
$1.38MX$23.84
-61.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07MAD 9.85
$0.28MX$4.79
282.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.42MAD 31.53
$5.45MX$94.4
-37.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.56MAD 14.36
$1.30MX$22.60
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KMAD 341.5K
$18.7KMX$323.8K
98.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5KMAD 225.2K
$23.1KMX$400.8K
5.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.41MAD 390
$40.86MX$708
3.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.21MAD 94.0
$26.81MX$465
-61.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.02MAD 368
$29.96MX$519
33.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.08MAD 130
$52.0MX$901
-72.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.55MAD 116
$26.84MX$465
-53.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.87MAD 35.63
$6.30MX$109
-38.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.65MAD 411
$436MX$7,558
-89.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,150MAD 47.4K
$10.4KMX$180.5K
-50.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$19.27MAD 177
$56.7MX$982
-65.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.66MAD 430
$44.38MX$769
5.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.5MAD 548
$103MX$1,784
-42.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.9MAD 634
$106MX$1,829
-34.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$217MAD 1,999
$1,022MX$17.7K
-78.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183MAD 1,687
$631MX$10.9K
-70.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478MAD 4,404
$2,136MX$37.0K
-77.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$273MAD 2,517
$1,243MX$21.5K
-78.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,160MAD 10.7K
$3,903MX$67.6K
-70.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$807MAD 7,425
$2,064MX$35.8K
-60.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$429MAD 3,953
$1,115MX$19.3K
-61.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.35
11.34
-61.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tetouan: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Tetouan and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 160% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Tetouan and Mexico City differ by about 124% in total monthly costs ($654 vs $1,467 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, Mexico City earns 160% 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 Tetouan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $217 in Tetouan 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 Tetouan and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 44% 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 $44.65 in Tetouan 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 $1,500 per month?
At $654 in Tetouan versus $1,467 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 124% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.