🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $545 in M'Sila versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $842 in M'Sila versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,139 in M'Sila versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in M'Sila costs roughly 62% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: M'Sila is 59% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.95DZD 259
$12.98MX$223
-84.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.26DZD 2,552
$52.6MX$903
-63.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.87DZD 513
$9.43MX$162
-58.96%
Cappuccino
$0.41DZD 54.1
$3.57MX$61.3
-88.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52DZD 68.4
$1.61MX$27.55
-67.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.56
$1.15MX$19.81
-81.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91DZD 253
$3.15MX$54.0
-39.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32DZD 308
$4.86MX$83.4
-52.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83DZD 110
$1.70MX$29.17
-51.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.13DZD 17.48
$2.64MX$45.23
-95.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48DZD 196
$1.90MX$32.67
-22.11%
Eggs
$1.48DZD 196
$2.54MX$43.62
-41.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.17DZD 420
$10.08MX$173
-68.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.49DZD 728
$8.29MX$142
-33.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.25DZD 1,225
$11.57MX$199
-20.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.17DZD 421
$3.03MX$52.0
4.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.74DZD 364
$1.71MX$29.35
60.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 228
$2.05MX$35.16
-16.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.54DZD 71.5
$2.06MX$35.36
-73.79%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49DZD 64.8
$2.06MX$35.43
-76.21%
Onion(1kg)
$0.31DZD 41.15
$2.17MX$37.25
-85.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.14DZD 18.91
$1.40MX$24.08
-90.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.17
$1.12MX$19.26
-73.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67DZD 354
$4.29MX$73.7
-37.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.78DZD 899
$15.41MX$265
-56.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.35DZD 178
$1.67MX$28.74
-19.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07DZD 275
$3.69MX$63.3
-43.90%
🚌 Getting Around
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23DZD 30.34
$0.38MX$6.55
-39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.59DZD 2,331
$19.06MX$327
-7.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71DZD 93.5
$1.38MX$23.70
-48.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34DZD 44.84
$0.28MX$4.74
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.46DZD 723
$5.42MX$92.9
0.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 47.18
$1.28MX$21.98
-71.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.0KDZD 4.8M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
89.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
42.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$23.73DZD 3,145
$41.02MX$704
-42.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.84DZD 1,039
$26.92MX$462
-70.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.96DZD 2,381
$29.69MX$510
-39.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.01DZD 3,049
$52.3MX$898
-56.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.23MX$450
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.07DZD 804
$6.18MX$106
-1.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.8DZD 12.3K
$427MX$7,331
-78.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,606DZD 477.9K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-66.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.32DZD 4,814
$56.8MX$975
-36.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.49DZD 6,029
$44.83MX$769
1.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9DZD 10.1K
$105MX$1,794
-27.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9DZD 10.3K
$106MX$1,819
-26.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$197DZD 26.1K
$995MX$17.1K
-80.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$117DZD 15.5K
$621MX$10.7K
-81.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$276DZD 36.6K
$2,126MX$36.5K
-87.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$181DZD 24.0K
$1,254MX$21.5K
-85.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,131DZD 149.9K
$3,903MX$67.0K
-71.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$649DZD 86.0K
$2,096MX$36.0K
-69.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
M'Sila
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$251DZD 33.3K
$1,107MX$19.0K
-77.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
11.34
-52.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for M'Sila: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in M'Sila and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 341% 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: $19.00 in M'Sila vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $288 per month, with M'Sila 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
M'Sila vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than M'Sila?
M'Sila is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 166% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: M'Sila or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 341% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between M'Sila and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $197 in M'Sila versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in M'Sila runs roughly 8% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $92.8 in M'Sila versus $427 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for M'Sila or Mexico City?
At $545 in M'Sila versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in M'Sila but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes M'Sila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is M'Sila or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, M'Sila is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, M'Sila or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, M'Sila 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find M'Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 166% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
M'Sila vs other spots: cost of living compared