🙂A single person spends $907 per month in Aqaba vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,450 per month in Aqaba vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,992 per month in Aqaba vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Aqaba is about 38% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Aqaba sits 32% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% 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
$13.18MX$228
-78.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.04JOD 34.71
$53.9MX$932
-9.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.19JOD 2.96
$9.42MX$163
-55.52%
Cappuccino
$4.19JOD 2.97
$3.55MX$61.4
18.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52JOD 0.37
$1.62MX$27.98
-67.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35JOD 0.24
$1.11MX$19.27
-68.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.57JOD 3.94
$3.12MX$54.0
78.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.23JOD 5.12
$4.63MX$80.1
56.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43JOD 1.01
$1.70MX$29.43
-15.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50JOD 0.36
$2.72MX$47.02
-81.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.68JOD 1.19
$1.91MX$33.07
-12.04%
Eggs
$1.65JOD 1.17
$2.54MX$43.86
-35.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.74JOD 4.06
$10.03MX$174
-42.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.27JOD 3.02
$8.09MX$140
-47.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.68JOD 6.85
$11.62MX$201
-16.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.38JOD 0.98
$2.97MX$51.3
-53.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39JOD 0.99
$1.81MX$31.24
-23.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08JOD 0.77
$2.01MX$34.82
-46.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74JOD 0.52
$2.03MX$35.20
-63.55%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73JOD 0.52
$2.12MX$36.75
-65.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.69JOD 0.49
$2.27MX$39.25
-69.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.65JOD 0.46
$1.40MX$24.22
-53.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58JOD 0.41
$1.13MX$19.55
-48.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49JOD 2.47
$4.27MX$73.9
-18.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.21JOD 12.18
$15.56MX$269
10.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.80JOD 1.98
$1.76MX$30.39
59.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50JOD 1.77
$3.60MX$62.2
-30.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Aqaba
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)
$0.50JOD 0.36
$1.38MX$23.79
-63.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.40JOD 0.99
$0.28MX$4.78
400.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.89JOD 4.88
$5.45MX$94.2
26.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41JOD 1.00
$1.30MX$22.55
8.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KJOD 19.1K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
44.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KJOD 21.9K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
33.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107JOD 75.6
$40.86MX$707
161.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.13JOD 12.12
$26.81MX$464
-36.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.90JOD 22.57
$29.96MX$518
6.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.1JOD 49.58
$52.0MX$900
34.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.84MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.45JOD 8.10
$6.30MX$109
81.75%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279JOD 197
$436MX$7,544
-36.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,770JOD 1,960
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-73.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.76JOD 19.65
$56.7MX$980
-51.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.12JOD 30.52
$44.38MX$768
-2.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.60JOD 29.44
$103MX$1,780
-59.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6JOD 49.96
$106MX$1,825
-33.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$315JOD 223
$1,022MX$17.7K
-69.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$255JOD 181
$631MX$10.9K
-59.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728JOD 515
$2,136MX$36.9K
-65.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496JOD 351
$1,243MX$21.5K
-60.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,133JOD 802
$3,903MX$67.5K
-70.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$553JOD 391
$2,064MX$35.7K
-73.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$556JOD 394
$1,115MX$19.3K
-50.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.27
11.34
-35.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Aqaba: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Aqaba 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.
💰Salaries run about 100% 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 $49.00 in Aqaba versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $288 – making Aqaba 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
Aqaba vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Aqaba?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 62%, 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 $1,361 per month in Aqaba and $2,201 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 vs Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $907 in Aqaba and $1,467 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 $279 per month in Aqaba and $436 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 Aqaba or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Aqaba, where all-in costs run around $907, than in Mexico City at $1,467. 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.