🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $870 in Al Mukalla versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,554 in Al Mukalla versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,238 in Al Mukalla versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Al Mukalla costs roughly 41% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Mukalla is 35% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.72YER 3,985
$13.18MX$228
26.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.33YER 8,895
$53.9MX$932
-30.74%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.27YER 3,877
$9.42MX$163
72.72%
Cappuccino
$8.09YER 1,929
$3.55MX$61.4
127.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77YER 899
$1.62MX$27.98
132.72%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78YER 186
$1.11MX$19.27
-29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.70MX$29.43
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.86YER 205
$2.72MX$47.02
-68.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$6.60YER 1,572
$1.91MX$33.07
245.55%
Eggs
$7.29YER 1,738
$2.54MX$43.86
187.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.27YER 3,401
$10.03MX$174
42.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$23.34YER 5,561
$8.09MX$140
188.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$58.5YER 13.9K
$11.62MX$201
403.27%
Apples(1kg)
$12.76YER 3,042
$2.97MX$51.3
329.63%
Banana(1kg)
$4.83YER 1,151
$1.81MX$31.24
166.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.80YER 1,144
$2.01MX$34.82
138.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20YER 764
$2.03MX$35.20
57.64%
Potato(1kg)
$5.21YER 1,243
$2.12MX$36.75
145.75%
Onion(1kg)
$4.16YER 990
$2.27MX$39.25
83.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.40MX$24.22
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.48YER 591
$1.13MX$19.55
119.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.27MX$73.9
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60MX$62.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.38MX$6.62
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.18MX$332
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.38MX$23.79
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.78
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.45MX$94.2
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
-
$1.30MX$22.55
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$40.86MX$707
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.81MX$464
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$29.96MX$518
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.0MX$900
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.30MX$109
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$436MX$7,544
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.7MX$980
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.38MX$768
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$103MX$1,780
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$106MX$1,825
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,022MX$17.7K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$631MX$10.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,136MX$36.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,243MX$21.5K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Mukalla
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Mukalla: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Al Mukalla vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $581 vs $288, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Al Mukalla vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Al Mukalla?
Al Mukalla is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 69% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,304 in Al Mukalla and $2,201 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Al Mukalla and Mexico City?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 101% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Mukalla or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Mukalla – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Mukalla or Mexico City?
At $870 in Al Mukalla versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Mukalla but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mukalla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Al Mukalla or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Al Mukalla is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Mukalla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Mukalla vs other spots: cost of living compared