🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,006 in Ha'il versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,471 in Ha'il versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,935 in Ha'il versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Ha'il costs roughly 31% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ha'il is 25% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.63SAR 24.88
$13.18MX$228
-49.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.33SAR 95.1
$53.9MX$932
-53.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.97SAR 26.15
$9.42MX$163
-26.01%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.08SAR 4.07
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.14
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.15SAR 11.81
$3.55MX$61.4
-11.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00SAR 3.75
$1.62MX$27.98
-38.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32SAR 1.20
$1.11MX$19.27
-71.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.70MX$29.43
0.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.87SAR 3.25
$2.72MX$47.02
-68.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.83SAR 6.86
$1.91MX$33.07
-4.19%
Eggs
$1.88SAR 7.04
$2.54MX$43.86
-25.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.59SAR 24.74
$10.03MX$174
-34.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.87SAR 33.31
$8.09MX$140
9.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.21SAR 30.83
$11.62MX$201
-29.35%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$2.97MX$51.3
-47.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.83
$1.81MX$31.24
-14.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.25SAR 4.70
$2.01MX$34.82
-37.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.99SAR 7.46
$2.03MX$35.20
-1.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$2.12MX$36.75
-38.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.96
$2.27MX$39.25
-29.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$1.40MX$24.22
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45SAR 1.69
$1.13MX$19.55
-60.18%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.80SAR 10.51
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SAR 6.66
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.52
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.20SAR 27.04
$4.27MX$73.9
68.62%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60MX$62.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$0.38MX$6.62
189.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.66SAR 149
$19.18MX$332
106.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71SAR 10.17
$1.38MX$23.79
96.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$0.28MX$4.78
585.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.43SAR 50.4
$5.45MX$94.2
146.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$1.30MX$22.55
-54.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KSAR 99.8K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
42.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4KSAR 84.2K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-3.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.5SAR 201
$40.86MX$707
30.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.54SAR 80.8
$26.81MX$464
-19.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.94SAR 176
$29.96MX$518
56.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.4SAR 249
$52.0MX$900
27.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.93SAR 131
$26.84MX$464
30.14%
Cinema Ticket
$14.45SAR 54.2
$6.30MX$109
129.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350SAR 1,313
$436MX$7,544
-19.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,015SAR 26.3K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-32.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9SAR 225
$56.7MX$980
5.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.2SAR 222
$44.38MX$768
33.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.3SAR 301
$103MX$1,780
-22.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5SAR 310
$106MX$1,825
-21.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490SAR 1,840
$1,022MX$17.7K
-52.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335SAR 1,258
$631MX$10.9K
-46.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$431SAR 1,619
$2,136MX$36.9K
-79.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$363SAR 1,364
$1,243MX$21.5K
-70.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,368SAR 8,888
$3,903MX$67.5K
-39.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,324SAR 4,967
$2,064MX$35.7K
-35.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067SAR 4,004
$1,115MX$19.3K
-4.33%
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 Ha'il: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Ha'il and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 5% 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: $25.00 in Ha'il vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $288 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 46% 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 Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 5% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ha'il vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Ha'il versus $1,022 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 Mexico City?
Childcare runs $350 in Ha'il versus $436 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 Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% 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 Mexico City?
At $1,006 in Ha'il versus $1,467 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 $1,006 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 46% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.