🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,017 in Ha'il versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,457 in Ha'il versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,897 in Ha'il versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ha'il costs roughly 30% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ha'il is 24% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.72SAR 25.25
$13.07MX$229
-48.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.09SAR 94.2
$53.8MX$940
-53.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12SAR 26.74
$9.68MX$169
-26.45%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.09SAR 4.08
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.83
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.29SAR 12.37
$3.74MX$65.4
-12.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05SAR 3.93
$1.62MX$28.25
-35.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32SAR 1.19
$1.16MX$20.31
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.23MX$56.4
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74MX$82.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SAR 6.68
$1.65MX$28.80
7.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.81SAR 3.05
$2.75MX$48.15
-70.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89SAR 7.09
$1.87MX$32.77
1.07%
Eggs
$1.93SAR 7.26
$2.50MX$43.72
-22.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.53SAR 24.52
$10.20MX$178
-35.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.79SAR 33.01
$8.25MX$144
6.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.58SAR 32.23
$11.82MX$207
-27.41%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$3.01MX$52.6
-47.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.81
$1.81MX$31.67
-14.36%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.65
$2.00MX$34.96
-38.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06SAR 7.72
$2.00MX$34.89
3.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.31SAR 4.92
$2.08MX$36.45
-37.02%
Onion(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.97
$2.27MX$39.72
-29.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.11SAR 4.17
$1.46MX$25.47
-23.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46SAR 1.73
$1.08MX$18.82
-57.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.68SAR 10.08
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SAR 6.44
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06SAR 7.75
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.89SAR 25.87
$4.35MX$76.0
58.39%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.99MX$297
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.31
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58MX$62.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$0.39MX$6.77
182.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.20SAR 147
$18.69MX$327
109.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.10
$1.33MX$23.18
102.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91SAR 7.18
$0.28MX$4.89
582.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.43SAR 50.4
$5.25MX$91.8
155.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.37
$1.34MX$23.37
-52.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.8K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
35.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KSAR 84.9K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
-5.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$54.1SAR 203
$40.69MX$712
32.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.08SAR 79.2
$26.87MX$470
-21.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$47.51SAR 178
$30.51MX$534
55.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.7SAR 254
$52.8MX$923
28.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.63SAR 134
$26.65MX$466
33.70%
Cinema Ticket
$14.89SAR 55.9
$6.51MX$114
128.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$350SAR 1,314
$428MX$7,485
-18.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,872SAR 25.8K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-34.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.5SAR 219
$57.3MX$1,001
2.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.3SAR 223
$45.50MX$796
30.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.5SAR 302
$104MX$1,819
-22.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.5SAR 310
$108MX$1,885
-23.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482SAR 1,809
$1,003MX$17.5K
-51.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329SAR 1,235
$623MX$10.9K
-47.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$442SAR 1,662
$2,109MX$36.9K
-79.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366SAR 1,376
$1,218MX$21.3K
-69.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,396SAR 8,998
$3,885MX$67.9K
-38.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,347SAR 5,060
$2,033MX$35.5K
-33.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ha'il
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,057SAR 3,970
$1,038MX$18.1K
1.85%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $482 in Ha'il and $1,003 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: $25.00 in Ha'il vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $292 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 43% 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: $482 in Ha'il versus $1,003 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 $350 in Ha'il versus $428 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 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 in Mexico City?
At $1,017 in Ha'il versus $1,456 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 $1,017 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 43% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.