🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $202 in Dar'a versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $394 in Dar'a versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $587 in Dar'a versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Dar'a costs roughly 86% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Dar'a is 85% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03SYP 368
$13.14MX$227
-76.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.94SYP 1,816
$53.5MX$926
-72.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
-
$9.33MX$161
-
Cappuccino
$0.99SYP 120
$3.70MX$64.0
-73.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78SYP 94.7
$1.60MX$27.76
-51.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48SYP 57.8
$1.12MX$19.34
-57.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.14MX$54.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.85MX$83.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.52SYP 62.6
$1.65MX$28.61
-68.48%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29SYP 34.82
$2.71MX$46.96
-89.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23SYP 149
$1.91MX$33.03
-35.60%
Eggs
$1.19SYP 144
$2.59MX$44.81
-54.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.05SYP 492
$9.81MX$170
-58.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19SYP 387
$8.43MX$146
-62.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.69SYP 813
$11.93MX$206
-43.92%
Apples(1kg)
$0.29SYP 34.63
$2.95MX$51.1
-90.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17SYP 142
$1.74MX$30.10
-32.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.63SYP 76.4
$2.04MX$35.38
-69.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.29SYP 34.79
$2.06MX$35.64
-85.92%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38SYP 46.40
$2.15MX$37.20
-82.33%
Onion(1kg)
$0.26SYP 31.76
$2.26MX$39.02
-88.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.28SYP 34.42
$1.39MX$23.97
-79.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48SYP 58.9
$1.12MX$19.31
-57.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.21SYP 269
$4.22MX$73.0
-47.63%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.51MX$303
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.58
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63MX$62.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25SYP 30.24
$0.35MX$6.10
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.32MX$334
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.38MX$23.80
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.54SYP 187
$0.28MX$4.77
450.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.98SYP 484
$5.28MX$91.3
-24.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.72SYP 209
$1.36MX$23.50
26.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.1KMX$330.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$40.53MX$701
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$27.38MX$474
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$30.38MX$526
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$3.45SYP 419
$52.2MX$903
-93.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.15SYP 747
$26.48MX$458
-76.77%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04SYP 369
$6.19MX$107
-50.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$425MX$7,355
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$9.99SYP 1,214
$58.3MX$1,009
-82.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.90SYP 3,025
$44.57MX$771
-44.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$103MX$1,791
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$16.94SYP 2,058
$109MX$1,881
-84.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$49.14SYP 5,971
$1,014MX$17.5K
-95.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$35.42SYP 4,304
$623MX$10.8K
-94.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$199SYP 24.1K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-90.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$126SYP 15.3K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-89.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dar'a
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dar'a: July 25, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $49.14 in Dar'a and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $15.00 in Dar'a vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $87.0 vs $293 per month, with Dar'a 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
Dar'a vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dar'a or Mexico City?
Dar'a wins on cost – living expenses run 630% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dar'a the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dar'a and in Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $302 in Dar'a 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dar'a compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $49.14 in Dar'a versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Dar'a compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $202 per month in Dar'a versus $1,472 in Mexico City – a 630% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Are groceries more expensive in Dar'a or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 238% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Dar'a or in Mexico City?
At $202 in Dar'a versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Dar'a but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Dar'a the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dar'a or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dar'a delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $202 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dar'a hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dar'a gentler on the wallet – expenses run 630% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.