🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $570 in El Oued versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $904 in El Oued versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,239 in El Oued versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in El Oued costs roughly 65% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: El Oued is 59% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.93DZD 388
$12.11MX$205
-75.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.71DZD 2,744
$52.2MX$885
-60.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.41DZD 584
$10.90MX$185
-59.54%
Cappuccino
$1.32DZD 175
$4.05MX$68.7
-67.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18DZD 156
$1.72MX$29.06
-31.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51DZD 67.2
$1.38MX$23.34
-63.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49DZD 198
$3.47MX$58.7
-57.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22DZD 294
$5.81MX$98.5
-61.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.92DZD 123
$1.85MX$31.40
-50.27%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 21.54
$3.22MX$54.6
-95.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.23DZD 163
$2.09MX$35.33
-41.15%
Eggs
$1.39DZD 184
$2.91MX$49.28
-52.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.29DZD 1,099
$12.49MX$212
-33.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.17DZD 552
$10.11MX$171
-58.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.62DZD 1,937
$15.89MX$269
-7.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.18DZD 288
$3.31MX$56.2
-34.14%
Banana(1kg)
$2.84DZD 376
$2.13MX$36.03
33.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12DZD 148
$2.19MX$37.11
-48.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.93DZD 123
$2.45MX$41.46
-62.04%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64DZD 84.9
$2.19MX$37.08
-70.78%
Onion(1kg)
$0.51DZD 68.1
$1.90MX$32.27
-73.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74DZD 98.1
$1.62MX$27.37
-54.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.26DZD 34.41
$1.35MX$22.87
-80.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.73DZD 362
$5.43MX$91.9
-49.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.38DZD 978
$17.59MX$298
-58.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38DZD 183
$2.07MX$35.03
-33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91DZD 253
$4.75MX$80.4
-59.79%
🚌 Getting Around
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19DZD 25.25
$0.34MX$5.76
-44.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.18DZD 818
$21.58MX$366
-71.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.55DZD 73.4
$2.04MX$34.57
-73.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.41DZD 54.1
$0.58MX$9.79
-29.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.07DZD 672
$5.97MX$101
-15.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.37DZD 48.40
$1.62MX$27.37
-77.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
$22.8KMX$386.4K
58.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KDZD 4.7M
$26.7KMX$451.7K
32.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.13DZD 5,185
$65.2MX$1,105
-40.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.32DZD 1,235
$29.87MX$506
-68.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$11.96DZD 1,585
$36.55MX$619
-67.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.54DZD 2,854
$61.0MX$1,033
-64.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$452
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.11DZD 677
$6.85MX$116
-25.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$102DZD 13.5K
$453MX$7,681
-77.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,881DZD 381.7K
$13.4KMX$226.5K
-78.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.88DZD 4,357
$75.0MX$1,270
-56.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.34DZD 4,683
$55.3MX$937
-36.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$70.3DZD 9,317
$114MX$1,925
-38.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1DZD 10.3K
$123MX$2,078
-36.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$162DZD 21.5K
$1,134MX$19.2K
-85.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$107DZD 14.2K
$712MX$12.1K
-85.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280DZD 37.1K
$2,571MX$43.6K
-89.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214DZD 28.3K
$1,311MX$22.2K
-83.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,296DZD 171.7K
$3,993MX$67.6K
-67.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
El Oued
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$267DZD 35.3K
$1,047MX$17.7K
-74.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.3
11.3
-53.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for El Oued: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $162 in El Oued and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 293% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in El Oued vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $345 per month, with El Oued 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
El Oued vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in El Oued and in Mexico City?
El Oued and Mexico City differ by about 189% in total monthly costs ($570 vs $1,646 including rent). El Oued is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 293% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in El Oued and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $162 in El Oued versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between El Oued and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $102 in El Oued versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 89% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $570 in El Oued versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Oued but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes El Oued the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between El Oued 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.
Is El Oued or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, El Oued 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.
Where should expats move: El Oued or Mexico City?
Expats usually find El Oued gentler on the wallet – expenses run 189% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.