🙂A single person spends $929 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,682 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,416 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,599 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,516 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Ar-rustaq is about 45% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Ar-rustaq sits 32% below the global median, while Mexico City is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.31OMR 2.04
$11.83MX$200
-55.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.09OMR 13.12
$52.2MX$884
-34.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31OMR 3.20
$10.87MX$184
-23.55%
Cappuccino
$4.94OMR 1.90
$4.03MX$68.2
22.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$1.71MX$28.99
-50.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29OMR 0.11
$1.34MX$22.70
-78.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$13.20OMR 5.08
$3.39MX$57.5
289.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$12.98OMR 5.00
$5.74MX$97.3
126.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.41OMR 0.93
$1.89MX$31.99
27.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.24OMR 0.48
$3.17MX$53.8
-60.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89OMR 0.73
$2.05MX$34.74
-7.80%
Eggs
$2.98OMR 1.15
$3.01MX$51.1
-1.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.98OMR 3.07
$12.61MX$214
-36.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.64OMR 2.56
$9.94MX$169
-33.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.16OMR 3.91
$16.00MX$271
-36.50%
Apples(1kg)
$3.22OMR 1.24
$3.28MX$55.6
-1.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.98OMR 0.76
$2.06MX$34.87
-3.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16OMR 0.83
$2.09MX$35.36
3.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.21OMR 0.47
$2.50MX$42.44
-51.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19OMR 0.46
$2.05MX$34.76
-41.95%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$1.87MX$31.70
-32.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.81OMR 0.70
$1.57MX$26.66
15.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61OMR 0.23
$1.39MX$23.64
-56.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.57OMR 2.53
$5.38MX$91.2
22.12%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.59OMR 6.00
$17.95MX$304
-13.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$5.45OMR 2.10
$2.02MX$34.31
169.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$9.12OMR 3.51
$4.76MX$80.7
91.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.36MX$6.13
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$20.80MX$353
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.33OMR 1.28
$2.06MX$34.92
61.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.66OMR 1.02
$0.56MX$9.55
375.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.00OMR 3.08
$5.82MX$98.6
37.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64OMR 0.25
$1.54MX$26.05
-58.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.8KOMR 9,917
$22.5KMX$380.6K
14.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KOMR 8,866
$26.5KMX$448.7K
-13.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169OMR 65.0
$66.0MX$1,118
156.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.03OMR 11.95
$30.98MX$525
0.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1OMR 26.99
$36.20MX$613
93.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$57.5MX$975
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.75MX$453
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.73OMR 4.13
$7.13MX$121
50.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286OMR 110
$457MX$7,738
-37.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KOMR 4,126
$13.2KMX$224.5K
-19.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.9OMR 21.90
$75.8MX$1,285
-24.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.20OMR 16.63
$54.1MX$917
-20.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.5OMR 35.59
$116MX$1,974
-20.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.9OMR 36.54
$122MX$2,063
-22.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,147MX$19.4K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$726MX$12.3K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,503MX$42.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,331MX$22.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,895MX$66.0K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,149MX$36.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,383OMR 1,688
$1,069MX$18.1K
310.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.25
11.35
-53.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ar-rustaq: August 18, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 310% higher in Ar-rustaq, 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 $34.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $284 vs $344 – making Ar-rustaq 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
Ar-rustaq vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Ar-rustaq?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 81%, 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 $1,393 per month in Ar-rustaq and $2,523 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Ar-rustaq and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $929 in Ar-rustaq and $1,682 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 $286 per month in Ar-rustaq and $457 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 Ar-rustaq or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $929, than in Mexico City at $1,682. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ar-rustaq or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq. 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.