🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Tetouan versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $983 in Tetouan versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,306 in Tetouan versus $3,266 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 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.24MAD 30.17
$13.07MX$229
-75.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.15MAD 179
$53.8MX$940
-64.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.14MAD 66.6
$9.68MX$169
-26.24%
Cappuccino
$1.64MAD 15.33
$3.74MX$65.4
-56.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66MAD 6.18
$1.62MX$28.25
-59.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35MAD 3.30
$1.16MX$20.31
-69.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.72MAD 25.33
$3.23MX$56.4
-15.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26MAD 30.36
$4.74MX$82.9
-31.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.88MAD 8.21
$1.65MX$28.80
-46.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27MAD 2.54
$2.75MX$48.15
-90.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61MAD 14.99
$1.87MX$32.77
-13.90%
Eggs
$1.81MAD 16.85
$2.50MX$43.72
-27.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.47MAD 41.66
$10.20MX$178
-56.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.37MAD 50.1
$8.25MX$144
-34.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.50MAD 97.9
$11.82MX$207
-11.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.29MAD 11.98
$3.01MX$52.6
-57.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37MAD 12.78
$1.81MX$31.67
-24.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77MAD 7.18
$2.00MX$34.96
-61.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.37
$2.00MX$34.89
-60.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64MAD 5.96
$2.08MX$36.45
-69.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.75
$2.27MX$39.72
-68.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46MAD 4.30
$1.46MX$25.47
-68.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MAD 5.97
$1.08MX$18.82
-40.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.03MAD 37.54
$4.35MX$76.0
-7.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.61MAD 80.3
$16.99MX$297
-49.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82MAD 16.94
$1.73MX$30.31
5.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08MAD 19.37
$3.58MX$62.5
-41.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47MAD 4.39
$0.39MX$6.77
20.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.34MAD 124
$18.69MX$327
-28.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57MAD 5.36
$1.33MX$23.18
-57.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02MAD 9.48
$0.28MX$4.89
264.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.55MAD 33.09
$5.25MX$91.8
-32.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MAD 14.42
$1.34MX$23.37
15.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.7KMAD 341.8K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
88.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0KMAD 224.0K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
0.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$42.68MAD 398
$40.69MX$712
4.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03MAD 93.5
$26.87MX$470
-62.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.41MAD 367
$30.51MX$534
29.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.93MAD 130
$52.8MX$923
-73.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.53MAD 117
$26.65MX$466
-52.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.00MAD 37.30
$6.51MX$114
-38.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.72MAD 417
$428MX$7,485
-89.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,154MAD 48.1K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-50.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.54MAD 173
$57.3MX$1,001
-67.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.91MAD 437
$45.50MX$796
3.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.1MAD 542
$104MX$1,819
-44.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8MAD 660
$108MX$1,885
-34.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218MAD 2,035
$1,003MX$17.5K
-78.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$186MAD 1,737
$623MX$10.9K
-70.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$470MAD 4,379
$2,109MX$36.9K
-77.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$275MAD 2,569
$1,218MX$21.3K
-77.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,106MAD 10.3K
$3,885MX$67.9K
-71.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783MAD 7,304
$2,033MX$35.5K
-61.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tetouan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$425MAD 3,963
$1,038MX$18.1K
-59.05%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Tetouan and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 144% 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 $292 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 121% in total monthly costs ($660 vs $1,456 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 144% 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: $218 in Tetouan 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 Tetouan and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Tetouan runs roughly 40% 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 $44.72 in Tetouan 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 $1,500 per month?
At $660 in Tetouan versus $1,456 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 121% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.