🙂A single person spends $733 per month in 'aqrah vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,160 per month in 'aqrah vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,588 per month in 'aqrah vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂'aqrah is about 50% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊'aqrah sits 45% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.13IQD 5,405
$13.18MX$228
-68.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.33IQD 33.2K
$53.9MX$932
-53.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94IQD 9,082
$9.42MX$163
-26.33%
Cappuccino
$2.56IQD 3,354
$3.55MX$61.4
-27.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36IQD 478
$1.62MX$27.98
-77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21IQD 270
$1.11MX$19.27
-81.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.86IQD 3,746
$3.12MX$54.0
-8.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79IQD 3,656
$4.63MX$80.1
-39.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36IQD 1,783
$1.70MX$29.43
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84IQD 1,099
$2.72MX$47.02
-69.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.60IQD 2,096
$1.91MX$33.07
-16.23%
Eggs
$1.81IQD 2,372
$2.54MX$43.86
-28.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.38IQD 5,736
$10.03MX$174
-56.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.74IQD 6,201
$8.09MX$140
-41.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.23IQD 17.3K
$11.62MX$201
13.86%
Apples(1kg)
$1.14IQD 1,487
$2.97MX$51.3
-61.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,507
$1.81MX$31.24
-36.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05IQD 1,379
$2.01MX$34.82
-47.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 906
$2.03MX$35.20
-66.01%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 905
$2.12MX$36.75
-67.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68IQD 893
$2.27MX$39.25
-70.04%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67IQD 877
$1.40MX$24.22
-52.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52IQD 675
$1.13MX$19.55
-53.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88IQD 2,466
$4.27MX$73.9
-55.97%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80IQD 2,352
$1.76MX$30.39
2.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17IQD 2,838
$3.60MX$62.2
-39.72%
🚌 Getting Around
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 513
$0.38MX$6.62
2.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.09IQD 40.7K
$19.18MX$332
62.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28IQD 2,988
$1.38MX$23.79
65.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52IQD 1,994
$0.28MX$4.78
442.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.14IQD 8,041
$5.45MX$94.2
12.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.54IQD 706
$1.30MX$22.55
-58.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
$18.7KMX$323.2K
2.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.6M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-15.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.1IQD 101.0K
$40.86MX$707
88.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.98IQD 23.5K
$26.81MX$464
-32.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.11IQD 46.0K
$29.96MX$518
17.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$36.07IQD 47.2K
$52.0MX$900
-30.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.82IQD 22.0K
$26.84MX$464
-37.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.76IQD 10.2K
$6.30MX$109
23.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154IQD 202.1K
$436MX$7,544
-64.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,257IQD 4.3M
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-68.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.29IQD 35.7K
$56.7MX$980
-51.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.64IQD 33.6K
$44.38MX$768
-42.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.7IQD 80.8K
$103MX$1,780
-40.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.75IQD 54.7K
$106MX$1,825
-60.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242IQD 316.5K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-76.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177IQD 231.7K
$631MX$10.9K
-71.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581IQD 760.9K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-72.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$348IQD 456.1K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-71.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
'aqrah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
11.34
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for 'aqrah: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in 'aqrah versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in 'aqrah versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $158 vs $288 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
'aqrah vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, 'aqrah or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 100% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in 'aqrah vs Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,099 per month in 'aqrah and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, 'aqrah or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in 'aqrah compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $733 in 'aqrah and $1,467 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How expensive is transport in 'aqrah vs Mexico City?
Public transport costs about 62% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $1,000/month in 'aqrah or Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $733, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, 'aqrah or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. 'aqrah costs $733 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is 'aqrah compared to Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to 'aqrah or Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
'aqrah vs other spots: cost of living compared