🙂A single person spends $1,137 per month in Abha vs $1,472 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,912 per month in Abha vs $2,359 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,687 per month in Abha vs $3,245 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Abha is about 23% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Abha sits 15% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28SAR 19.84
$13.14MX$229
-59.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8SAR 202
$53.5MX$934
0.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81SAR 29.34
$9.33MX$163
-16.29%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78SAR 6.68
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38SAR 5.18
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.06SAR 11.48
$3.70MX$64.5
-17.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62SAR 2.35
$1.60MX$27.98
-61.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21SAR 0.79
$1.12MX$19.49
-81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.14MX$54.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.85MX$84.5
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91SAR 7.17
$1.65MX$28.84
15.76%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48SAR 1.80
$2.71MX$47.34
-82.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96SAR 7.36
$1.91MX$33.29
2.62%
Eggs
$2.98SAR 11.19
$2.59MX$45.17
15.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.76SAR 21.61
$9.81MX$171
-41.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.63SAR 32.38
$8.43MX$147
2.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.93SAR 63.6
$11.93MX$208
41.91%
Apples(1kg)
$1.84SAR 6.92
$2.95MX$51.5
-37.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.01
$1.74MX$30.35
-8.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46SAR 5.47
$2.04MX$35.66
-28.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.60
$2.06MX$35.93
-14.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36SAR 5.09
$2.15MX$37.49
-36.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27SAR 4.76
$2.26MX$39.33
-43.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89SAR 3.36
$1.39MX$24.17
-35.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.18
$1.12MX$19.47
-48.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.49SAR 16.87
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45SAR 5.45
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.20SAR 34.53
$4.22MX$73.6
118.01%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.51MX$305
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.82
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63MX$63.4
-
🚌 Getting Around
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.81SAR 3.03
$0.35MX$6.15
131.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.30SAR 148
$19.32MX$337
103.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71SAR 10.16
$1.38MX$24.00
96.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73SAR 10.24
$0.28MX$4.81
875.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.29SAR 49.88
$5.28MX$92.0
151.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$1.36MX$23.69
-52.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KSAR 91.1K
$19.1KMX$333.2K
26.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.7K
$23.6KMX$411.7K
-2.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8SAR 307
$40.53MX$707
101.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.74SAR 138
$27.38MX$478
34.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$55.1SAR 207
$30.38MX$530
81.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$121SAR 453
$52.2MX$911
131.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.01SAR 101
$26.48MX$462
2.00%
Cinema Ticket
$17.89SAR 67.2
$6.19MX$108
189.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$236SAR 885
$425MX$7,414
-44.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,226SAR 19.6K
$10.7KMX$187.2K
-51.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.74SAR 145
$58.3MX$1,017
-33.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.5SAR 253
$44.57MX$777
51.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$177SAR 666
$103MX$1,805
71.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3SAR 339
$109MX$1,897
-16.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$361SAR 1,354
$1,014MX$17.7K
-64.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267SAR 1,002
$623MX$10.9K
-57.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$555SAR 2,084
$2,119MX$37.0K
-73.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640SAR 2,405
$1,223MX$21.3K
-47.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$930SAR 3,490
$3,792MX$66.1K
-75.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,312SAR 4,924
$2,110MX$36.8K
-37.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abha
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,233SAR 8,382
$1,052MX$18.4K
112.21%
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 Abha: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Abha versus $1,014 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.
💰Salaries run about 112% higher in Abha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Abha versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $293 – making Abha 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
Abha vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abha or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 29% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 Abha and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,705 per month in Abha and $2,208 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Abha or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Abha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Abha or in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Abha and in Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Abha and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Abha or in Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,137, than in Mexico City at $1,472. In Abha 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, Abha or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Abha costs $1,137 versus $1,472 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Abha 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 Abha or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Abha. 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.