🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,156 in Az Zubayr versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,581 in Az Zubayr versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Az Zubayr costs roughly 50% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Az Zubayr is 45% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.00IQD 5,231
$13.14MX$227
-69.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.14IQD 32.9K
$53.5MX$926
-53.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.98IQD 9,134
$9.33MX$161
-25.19%
Cappuccino
$2.55IQD 3,336
$3.70MX$64.0
-31.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40IQD 521
$1.60MX$27.76
-75.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20IQD 266
$1.12MX$19.34
-82.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.96IQD 3,879
$3.14MX$54.3
-5.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86IQD 3,743
$4.85MX$83.9
-41.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32IQD 1,726
$1.65MX$28.61
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.83IQD 1,092
$2.71MX$46.96
-69.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.66IQD 2,177
$1.91MX$33.03
-13.09%
Eggs
$1.78IQD 2,332
$2.59MX$44.81
-31.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.61IQD 6,038
$9.81MX$170
-53.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.68IQD 6,122
$8.43MX$146
-44.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.21IQD 17.3K
$11.93MX$206
10.73%
Apples(1kg)
$1.16IQD 1,518
$2.95MX$51.1
-60.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15IQD 1,501
$1.74MX$30.10
-33.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01IQD 1,328
$2.04MX$35.38
-50.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.69IQD 901
$2.06MX$35.64
-66.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64IQD 839
$2.15MX$37.20
-70.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64IQD 836
$2.26MX$39.02
-71.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67IQD 880
$1.39MX$23.97
-51.80%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56IQD 731
$1.12MX$19.31
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96IQD 2,567
$4.22MX$73.0
-53.55%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.51MX$303
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77IQD 2,313
$1.71MX$29.58
3.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11IQD 2,762
$3.63MX$62.8
-41.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39IQD 516
$0.35MX$6.10
11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.94IQD 40.5K
$19.32MX$334
60.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25IQD 2,953
$1.38MX$23.80
63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54IQD 2,011
$0.28MX$4.77
450.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.95IQD 7,788
$5.28MX$91.3
12.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.57IQD 743
$1.36MX$23.50
-58.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KIQD 25.1M
$19.1KMX$330.5K
0.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-17.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.0IQD 100.8K
$40.53MX$701
89.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.96IQD 23.5K
$27.38MX$474
-34.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.90IQD 45.7K
$30.38MX$526
14.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.05IQD 48.5K
$52.2MX$903
-29.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.50IQD 21.6K
$26.48MX$458
-37.69%
Cinema Ticket
$7.61IQD 9,965
$6.19MX$107
22.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152IQD 199.6K
$425MX$7,355
-64.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,308IQD 4.3M
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-69.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.50IQD 36.0K
$58.3MX$1,009
-52.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.98IQD 32.7K
$44.57MX$771
-43.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.8IQD 80.9K
$103MX$1,791
-40.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.34IQD 52.8K
$109MX$1,881
-62.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$239IQD 312.7K
$1,014MX$17.5K
-76.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181IQD 236.4K
$623MX$10.8K
-71.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581IQD 760.4K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-72.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346IQD 453.3K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-71.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Az Zubayr
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.67
11.34
-50.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Az Zubayr: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $239 in Az Zubayr and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Az Zubayr vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $158 vs $293 per month, with Az Zubayr cheaper across the board.
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
Az Zubayr vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Az Zubayr and in Mexico City?
Az Zubayr and Mexico City differ by about 101% in total monthly costs ($731 vs $1,472 including rent). Az Zubayr is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Az Zubayr compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,097 in Az Zubayr and $2,208 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Az Zubayr and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $239 in Az Zubayr versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Az Zubayr – a meal for two runs $25.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $731 in Az Zubayr versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Az Zubayr but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Az Zubayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Az Zubayr and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Az Zubayr or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Az Zubayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 101% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.