Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rustaq and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $950 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,323 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,696 per month in Ar-rustaq vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Ar-rustaq is about 36% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Ar-rustaq sits 29% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.05 OMR 1.94
$12.98 MX$226
-61.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.79 OMR 9.91
$53.1 MX$923
-51.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.58 OMR 2.91
$9.72 MX$169
-22.02%
Cappuccino
$4.85 OMR 1.86
$3.75 MX$65.2
29.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 OMR 0.19
$1.57 MX$27.30
-67.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 OMR 0.10
$1.13 MX$19.64
-77.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$12.39 OMR 4.76
$3.18 MX$55.3
289.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$11.75 OMR 4.51
$4.66 MX$81.1
152.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.93 OMR 0.74
$1.62 MX$28.21
19.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 OMR 0.45
$2.71 MX$47.09
-56.46%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.68 OMR 0.64
$1.88 MX$32.70
-10.64%
Eggs
$1.85 OMR 0.71
$2.51 MX$43.65
-26.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.87 OMR 1.48
$10.08 MX$175
-61.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.11 OMR 1.58
$8.29 MX$144
-50.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.03 OMR 3.08
$11.94 MX$208
-32.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 OMR 0.88
$2.86 MX$49.77
-19.93%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 OMR 0.67
$1.75 MX$30.45
-0.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.78 OMR 0.68
$2.08 MX$36.27
-14.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.16 OMR 0.45
$1.97 MX$34.27
-41.12%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 OMR 0.39
$2.16 MX$37.58
-52.31%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 OMR 0.37
$2.18 MX$37.94
-55.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.09 OMR 0.42
$1.39 MX$24.20
-21.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 OMR 0.21
$1.12 MX$19.57
-50.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.19 OMR 2.38
$4.20 MX$73.1
47.38%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.45 OMR 5.93
$14.25 MX$248
8.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.18 OMR 1.61
$1.76 MX$30.68
137.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.72 OMR 2.97
$3.68 MX$64.1
109.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.27 OMR 0.49
$0.39 MX$6.71
225.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$18.66 MX$325
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.58 OMR 0.61
$1.39 MX$24.12
13.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.75 OMR 0.29
$0.30 MX$5.29
150.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.51 OMR 4.03
$5.42 MX$94.3
93.91%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 OMR 0.24
$1.35 MX$23.50
-52.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K OMR 8,737
$18.9K MX$328.6K
20.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7K OMR 8,331
$23.2K MX$402.8K
-6.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 OMR 40.44
$40.82 MX$710
157.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$41.62 OMR 15.98
$27.50 MX$479
51.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.8 OMR 26.41
$30.38 MX$529
126.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$53.4 MX$930
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$2.66 OMR 1.02
$26.30 MX$458
-89.89%
Cinema Ticket
$10.51 OMR 4.04
$6.27 MX$109
67.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$128 OMR 49.23
$436 MX$7,588
-70.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,695 OMR 1,419
$10.5K MX$182.1K
-64.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.95 OMR 8.05
$56.8 MX$988
-63.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.33 OMR 10.11
$44.79 MX$779
-41.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$39.52 OMR 15.18
$103 MX$1,789
-61.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.5 OMR 20.17
$108 MX$1,878
-51.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$158 OMR 60.7
$1,000 MX$17.4K
-84.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$207 OMR 79.5
$620 MX$10.8K
-66.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$386 OMR 148
$2,137 MX$37.2K
-81.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$206 OMR 79.1
$1,235 MX$21.5K
-83.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,865 MX$67.3K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,332 MX$40.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rustaq
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,502 OMR 1,729
$1,067 MX$18.6K
321.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.15
11.34
-54.59%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ar-rustaq: April 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $158 in Ar-rustaq versus $1,000 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 322% 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 $26.00 in Ar-rustaq versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $286 – 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 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,426 per month in Ar-rustaq and $2,225 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 Ar-rustaq, 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 Ar-rustaq vs Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $950 in Ar-rustaq and $1,484 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 $128 per month in Ar-rustaq 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 Ar-rustaq or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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.

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