Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Dhahran vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Dhahran vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,017 per month in Dhahran vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.

Dhahran is about 21% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Dhahran sits 5% below the global median, while Mexico City is 20% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.34

$12.11 MX$206

-55.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.08 SAR 151

$52.2 MX$887

-23.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SAR 22.70

$10.90 MX$185

-44.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.97

$4.05 MX$68.8

-1.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$1.72 MX$29.13

-59.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$1.38 MX$23.40

-85.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$58.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.81 MX$98.7

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.85 MX$31.48

-14.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$3.22 MX$54.7

-70.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$2.09 MX$35.42

-4.31%

Eggs

$3.90 SAR 14.64

$2.91 MX$49.41

34.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 SAR 33.05

$12.49 MX$212

-29.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SAR 41.92

$10.11 MX$172

10.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 SAR 51.6

$15.89 MX$270

-13.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$3.31 MX$56.3

-36.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

$2.13 MX$36.12

-35.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.78

$2.19 MX$37.20

-17.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$2.45 MX$41.57

-29.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$2.19 MX$37.18

-30.59%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.90 MX$32.35

-50.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$1.62 MX$27.44

21.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.46

$1.35 MX$22.92

-31.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.81 SAR 18.05

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 SAR 21.17

$5.43 MX$92.1

3.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.59 MX$299

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.12

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.75 MX$80.6

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.34 MX$5.77

126.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.58 MX$366

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$2.04 MX$34.65

-35.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.57

$0.58 MX$9.82

477.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 SAR 35.48

$5.97 MX$101

58.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.62 MX$27.44

-61.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

$22.8K MX$387.4K

134.11%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

$26.7K MX$452.8K

-23.30%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$60.2 SAR 226

$65.2 MX$1,108

-7.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$43.47 SAR 163

$29.87 MX$507

45.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 SAR 243

$36.55 MX$621

77.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 SAR 731

$61.0 MX$1,036

218.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.4 SAR 343

$26.70 MX$453

242.17%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 SAR 39.82

$6.85 MX$116

54.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$65.8 SAR 247

$453 MX$7,700

-85.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

$13.4K MX$227.1K

-1.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 SAR 189

$75.0 MX$1,273

-32.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 SAR 159

$55.3 MX$939

-23.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 SAR 285

$114 MX$1,929

-33.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$123 MX$2,083

-27.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 SAR 1,330

$1,134 MX$19.3K

-68.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$712 MX$12.1K

-37.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,571 MX$43.7K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,311 MX$22.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,993 MX$67.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,095 MX$35.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

$1,047 MX$17.8K

172.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

11.3

-60.18%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Dhahran versus $1,134 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 173% higher in Dhahran, 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 $40.00 in Dhahran versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $345 – making Dhahran 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

Dhahran vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 27% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,950 per month in Dhahran and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,300 in Dhahran and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $65.8 per month in Dhahran and $453 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhahran costs $1,300 versus $1,646 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Dhahran. 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.