Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Aqaba and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $925 per month in Aqaba vs $1,456 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,423 per month in Aqaba vs $2,361 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,921 per month in Aqaba vs $3,266 in Mexico City, rent included.

Aqaba is about 37% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Aqaba sits 31% below the global median, while Mexico City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.77 JOD 1.96
$13.07 MX$229
-78.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.99 JOD 34.68
$53.8 MX$943
-8.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.19 JOD 2.97
$9.68 MX$170
-56.71%
Cappuccino
$4.17 JOD 2.95
$3.74 MX$65.6
11.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 JOD 0.34
$1.62 MX$28.34
-70.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 JOD 0.26
$1.16 MX$20.37
-68.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.78 JOD 4.09
$3.23 MX$56.6
78.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.02 JOD 4.97
$4.74 MX$83.1
48.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 JOD 0.99
$1.65 MX$28.89
-15.76%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 JOD 0.36
$2.75 MX$48.30
-81.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 JOD 1.20
$1.87 MX$32.87
-9.09%
Eggs
$1.72 JOD 1.22
$2.50 MX$43.86
-31.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.53 JOD 3.91
$10.20 MX$179
-45.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 JOD 2.97
$8.25 MX$145
-49.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.72 JOD 6.88
$11.82 MX$207
-17.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.39 JOD 0.98
$3.01 MX$52.8
-53.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 JOD 0.98
$1.81 MX$31.77
-23.76%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 JOD 0.73
$2.00 MX$35.07
-48.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 JOD 0.49
$2.00 MX$35.00
-65.50%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 JOD 0.49
$2.08 MX$36.56
-66.83%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 JOD 0.50
$2.27 MX$39.85
-69.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.60 JOD 0.42
$1.46 MX$25.55
-58.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 JOD 0.39
$1.08 MX$18.88
-49.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 JOD 2.56
$4.35 MX$76.3
-17.01%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.67 JOD 11.80
$16.99 MX$298
-1.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.78 JOD 1.97
$1.73 MX$30.40
60.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 JOD 1.79
$3.58 MX$62.7
-29.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.39 MX$6.79
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.69 MX$328
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 JOD 0.36
$1.33 MX$23.25
-61.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.45 JOD 1.02
$0.28 MX$4.91
417.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.16 JOD 5.07
$5.25 MX$92.1
36.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.40 JOD 0.99
$1.34 MX$23.44
4.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K JOD 19.4K
$19.4K MX$340.5K
41.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.7K JOD 21.7K
$23.8K MX$418.0K
28.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 JOD 75.4
$40.69 MX$714
161.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.26 JOD 12.22
$26.87 MX$471
-35.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.92 JOD 22.59
$30.51 MX$535
4.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$69.1 JOD 48.92
$52.8 MX$926
30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65 MX$467
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.27 JOD 7.98
$6.51 MX$114
73.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$276 JOD 195
$428 MX$7,508
-35.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,842 JOD 2,011
$10.5K MX$184.2K
-72.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.68 JOD 19.59
$57.3 MX$1,004
-51.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.15 JOD 29.83
$45.50 MX$798
-7.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$42.60 JOD 30.15
$104 MX$1,825
-59.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6 JOD 50.0
$108 MX$1,891
-34.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$315 JOD 223
$1,003 MX$17.6K
-68.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 JOD 186
$623 MX$10.9K
-57.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$740 JOD 524
$2,109 MX$37.0K
-64.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$492 JOD 349
$1,218 MX$21.4K
-59.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,149 JOD 813
$3,885 MX$68.1K
-70.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$567 JOD 401
$2,033 MX$35.7K
-72.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Aqaba
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$566 JOD 401
$1,038 MX$18.2K
-45.48%
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $315 in Aqaba versus $1,003 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 83% 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: $187 vs $292 – 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 58%, 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 $1,387 per month in Aqaba and $2,185 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 $925 in Aqaba and $1,456 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 $276 per month in Aqaba and $428 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 $925, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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.

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