🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Dammam versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Dammam versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,530 in Dammam versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Dammam costs roughly 17% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dammam is 10% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.73SAR 25.28
$12.98MX$227
-48.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.67SAR 153
$52.6MX$918
-22.70%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.79SAR 29.26
$9.43MX$165
-17.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81SAR 6.81
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77SAR 6.64
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.64SAR 13.67
$3.57MX$62.3
1.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81SAR 3.05
$1.61MX$28.02
-49.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30SAR 1.14
$1.15MX$20.14
-73.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15MX$55.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.86MX$84.8
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64SAR 6.15
$1.70MX$29.66
-3.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.02SAR 3.82
$2.64MX$45.99
-61.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36SAR 8.85
$1.90MX$33.22
24.21%
Eggs
$2.59SAR 9.74
$2.54MX$44.35
1.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.90SAR 25.90
$10.08MX$176
-31.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.53SAR 28.26
$8.29MX$145
-9.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.74SAR 47.85
$11.57MX$202
10.11%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34SAR 8.79
$3.03MX$52.8
-22.77%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.71MX$29.85
-0.58%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$2.05MX$35.76
-23.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$2.06MX$35.95
-23.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23SAR 4.61
$2.06MX$36.03
-40.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 5.01
$2.17MX$37.87
-38.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.37SAR 5.13
$1.40MX$24.49
-2.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$1.12MX$19.58
-48.21%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.93SAR 10.99
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SAR 6.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09SAR 7.84
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.25SAR 27.22
$4.29MX$74.9
69.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.41MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.67MX$29.23
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.69MX$64.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.08SAR 4.06
$0.38MX$6.66
184.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.81SAR 149
$19.06MX$333
108.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73SAR 10.27
$1.38MX$24.10
97.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91SAR 7.15
$0.28MX$4.82
582.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.59SAR 51.0
$5.42MX$94.5
150.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$1.28MX$22.35
-53.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KSAR 101.4K
$19.0KMX$331.3K
42.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.9KSAR 86.1K
$23.5KMX$409.5K
-2.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 399
$41.02MX$716
159.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.85SAR 127
$26.92MX$470
25.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6SAR 265
$29.69MX$518
137.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$95.4SAR 358
$52.3MX$913
82.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.96SAR 131
$26.23MX$458
33.28%
Cinema Ticket
$14.40SAR 54.1
$6.18MX$108
133.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355SAR 1,332
$427MX$7,454
-16.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,665SAR 28.8K
$10.7KMX$186.7K
-28.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8SAR 209
$56.8MX$992
-1.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.7SAR 235
$44.83MX$782
39.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.0SAR 319
$105MX$1,824
-18.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3SAR 301
$106MX$1,849
-24.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430SAR 1,613
$995MX$17.4K
-56.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373SAR 1,401
$621MX$10.8K
-39.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$874SAR 3,283
$2,126MX$37.1K
-58.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632SAR 2,372
$1,254MX$21.9K
-49.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,778SAR 6,677
$3,903MX$68.1K
-54.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,106SAR 4,154
$2,096MX$36.6K
-47.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dammam
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
11.34
-61.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dammam: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Dammam and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Dammam vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $288 per month, with Dammam 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
Dammam vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Dammam?
Dammam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,810 in Dammam and $2,171 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.
What is the rent difference between Dammam and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Dammam versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Dammam vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Dammam versus $1,447 in Mexico City – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Dammam runs roughly 109% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Dammam or Mexico City?
At $1,207 in Dammam versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dammam but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Dammam or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Dammam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Dammam or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Dammam and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.