🙂A single person spends $904 per month in Aqaba vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,489 per month in Aqaba vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Aqaba vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Aqaba is about 45% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Aqaba sits 34% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.79JOD 1.97
$12.11MX$206
-76.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1JOD 46.76
$52.2MX$887
26.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.13JOD 2.92
$10.90MX$185
-62.11%
Cappuccino
$4.43JOD 3.14
$4.05MX$68.8
9.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66JOD 0.46
$1.72MX$29.13
-61.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59JOD 0.42
$1.38MX$23.40
-57.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.45JOD 5.98
$3.47MX$58.9
143.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.86JOD 7.69
$5.81MX$98.7
86.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44JOD 1.02
$1.85MX$31.48
-22.16%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50JOD 0.35
$3.22MX$54.7
-84.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59JOD 1.13
$2.09MX$35.42
-23.92%
Eggs
$1.70JOD 1.20
$2.91MX$49.41
-41.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.62JOD 3.98
$12.49MX$212
-55.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.25JOD 3.00
$10.11MX$172
-57.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.88JOD 7.00
$15.89MX$270
-37.82%
Apples(1kg)
$1.37JOD 0.97
$3.31MX$56.3
-58.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38JOD 0.98
$2.13MX$36.12
-35.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.03JOD 0.73
$2.19MX$37.20
-52.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69JOD 0.49
$2.45MX$41.57
-71.84%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74JOD 0.52
$2.19MX$37.18
-66.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69JOD 0.49
$1.90MX$32.35
-63.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66JOD 0.47
$1.62MX$27.44
-59.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54JOD 0.38
$1.35MX$22.92
-60.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.86JOD 2.74
$5.43MX$92.1
-28.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.14JOD 12.13
$17.59MX$299
-2.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74JOD 1.94
$2.07MX$35.12
32.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54JOD 1.79
$4.75MX$80.6
-46.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.34MX$5.77
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$21.58MX$366
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50JOD 0.36
$2.04MX$34.65
-75.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.42JOD 1.01
$0.58MX$9.82
144.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.88JOD 4.87
$5.97MX$101
15.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.42JOD 1.00
$1.62MX$27.44
-12.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.1KJOD 22.0K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
36.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.8KJOD 21.8K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
15.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127JOD 89.8
$65.2MX$1,108
94.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95JOD 11.29
$29.87MX$507
-46.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.64JOD 22.39
$36.55MX$621
-13.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$64.0JOD 45.26
$61.0MX$1,036
4.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$453
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.26JOD 7.97
$6.85MX$116
64.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$479JOD 339
$453MX$7,700
5.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,861JOD 2,025
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-78.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.65JOD 19.57
$75.0MX$1,273
-63.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.62JOD 30.16
$55.3MX$939
-22.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.27JOD 29.92
$114MX$1,929
-62.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5JOD 49.90
$123MX$2,083
-42.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$281JOD 199
$1,134MX$19.3K
-75.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$211JOD 149
$712MX$12.1K
-70.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$683JOD 483
$2,571MX$43.7K
-73.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453JOD 321
$1,311MX$22.3K
-65.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,120JOD 792
$3,993MX$67.8K
-71.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$553JOD 391
$2,095MX$35.6K
-73.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$555JOD 393
$1,047MX$17.8K
-46.94%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.81
11.3
-39.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aqaba: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $281 in Aqaba versus $1,134 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 88% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Aqaba versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $189 in Aqaba vs $345 in Mexico City – so Aqaba wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Aqaba vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Aqaba?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 82%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,355 per month in Aqaba and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Aqaba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Aqaba and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $904 in Aqaba and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $479 per month in Aqaba and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Aqaba or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $904, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Aqaba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Aqaba or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Aqaba – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Aqaba or 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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Aqaba. 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.