🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,004 in Ha'il versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,564 in Ha'il versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,123 in Ha'il versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ha'il costs roughly 39% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ha'il is 27% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.19SAR 19.49
$12.11MX$206
-57.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.64SAR 138
$52.2MX$887
-29.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.08SAR 22.82
$10.90MX$185
-44.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.23SAR 4.62
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SAR 7.35
-
-
Cappuccino
$2.71SAR 10.17
$4.05MX$68.8
-33.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.17
$1.72MX$29.13
-66.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24SAR 0.89
$1.38MX$23.40
-82.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47MX$58.9
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.81MX$98.7
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.44
$1.85MX$31.48
-7.03%
White Bread(500g)
$0.82SAR 3.07
$3.22MX$54.7
-74.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91SAR 7.17
$2.09MX$35.42
-8.61%
Eggs
$1.96SAR 7.36
$2.91MX$49.41
-32.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.56SAR 24.62
$12.49MX$212
-47.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.55SAR 32.11
$10.11MX$172
-15.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19SAR 30.74
$15.89MX$270
-48.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.65
$3.31MX$56.3
-54.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.84
$2.13MX$36.12
-26.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.23SAR 4.63
$2.19MX$37.20
-43.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97SAR 7.41
$2.45MX$41.57
-19.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.95
$2.19MX$37.18
-39.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.89
$1.90MX$32.35
-17.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.14SAR 4.27
$1.62MX$27.44
-29.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46SAR 1.72
$1.35MX$22.92
-65.93%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.74SAR 10.28
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68SAR 6.30
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.14SAR 8.04
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.80SAR 25.54
$5.43MX$92.1
25.23%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.59MX$299
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.07MX$35.12
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.75MX$80.6
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.89
$0.34MX$5.77
205.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.74SAR 134
$21.58MX$366
65.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.90SAR 10.87
$2.04MX$34.65
42.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81SAR 6.81
$0.58MX$9.82
212.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.36SAR 50.2
$5.97MX$101
123.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.26
$1.62MX$27.44
-62.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.0KSAR 172.6K
$22.8KMX$387.4K
101.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.7KSAR 81.3K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
-18.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.0SAR 199
$65.2MX$1,108
-18.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54SAR 80.9
$29.87MX$507
-27.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.79SAR 172
$36.55MX$621
25.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.7SAR 254
$61.0MX$1,036
10.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.19SAR 136
$26.70MX$453
35.54%
Cinema Ticket
$14.55SAR 54.6
$6.85MX$116
112.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340SAR 1,276
$453MX$7,700
-25.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,604SAR 24.8K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
-50.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.2SAR 192
$75.0MX$1,273
-31.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8SAR 225
$55.3MX$939
8.19%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.5SAR 355
$114MX$1,929
-16.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.5SAR 329
$123MX$2,083
-28.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240SAR 902
$1,134MX$19.3K
-78.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340SAR 1,278
$712MX$12.1K
-52.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$362SAR 1,360
$2,571MX$43.7K
-85.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$550SAR 2,064
$1,311MX$22.3K
-58.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,364SAR 8,878
$3,993MX$67.8K
-40.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,390SAR 5,218
$2,095MX$35.6K
-33.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,063SAR 3,993
$1,047MX$17.8K
1.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.47
11.3
-51.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ha'il: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Ha'il and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ha'il pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Ha'il vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $345 per month, with Ha'il 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
Ha'il vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ha'il or Mexico City?
Ha'il wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ha'il the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ha'il or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 2% higher in Ha'il, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ha'il compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Ha'il versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Ha'il and in Mexico City?
Childcare runs $340 in Ha'il versus $453 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Ha'il or in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 95% 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 Ha'il or in Mexico City?
At $1,004 in Ha'il versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ha'il but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ha'il the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ha'il or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ha'il delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,004 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ha'il hard to pass up.
How safe is Ha'il compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Ha'il 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ha'il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.