Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and 'aqrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and 'aqrah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $739 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,157 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $1,575 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 97% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while 'aqrah is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

$4.17 IQD 5,454

213.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$943

$24.73 IQD 32.4K

117.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$170

$6.71 IQD 8,791

44.26%

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.6

$2.54 IQD 3,331

47.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.62 MX$28.34

$0.39 IQD 517

315.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.37

$0.18 IQD 240

544.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.6

$2.90 IQD 3,792

11.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$83.1

$2.89 IQD 3,783

64.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.89

$1.36 IQD 1,776

21.32%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$48.30

$0.80 IQD 1,044

243.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.87

$1.66 IQD 2,171

12.65%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.86

$1.79 IQD 2,340

39.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$179

$4.54 IQD 5,941

124.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$145

$4.58 IQD 6,000

80.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

$13.11 IQD 17.2K

-9.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.8

$1.20 IQD 1,566

150.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.77

$1.19 IQD 1,565

52.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.07

$1.02 IQD 1,330

96.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.00

$0.69 IQD 900

189.86%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.56

$0.65 IQD 853

220.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.85

$0.66 IQD 868

243.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.55

$0.64 IQD 834

128.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.88

$0.56 IQD 729

92.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.3

$1.95 IQD 2,554

123.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$298

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.40

$1.84 IQD 2,406

-5.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.7

$2.17 IQD 2,842

64.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.79

$0.37 IQD 478

5.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$328

$31.16 IQD 40.8K

-40.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.25

$2.32 IQD 3,035

-42.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.91

$1.47 IQD 1,929

-80.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$92.1

$5.92 IQD 7,748

-11.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.44

$0.57 IQD 750

135.09%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K MX$340.5K

$19.2K IQD 25.1M

1.15%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K MX$418.0K

$20.3K IQD 26.5M

17.58%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.69 MX$714

$76.5 IQD 100.1K

-46.80%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.87 MX$471

$17.72 IQD 23.2K

51.64%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$535

$34.91 IQD 45.7K

-12.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$926

$36.87 IQD 48.3K

43.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$467

$17.14 IQD 22.4K

55.48%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

$7.86 IQD 10.3K

-17.18%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$428 MX$7,508

$153 IQD 200.3K

179.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$184.2K

$3,257 IQD 4.3M

222.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,004

$26.64 IQD 34.9K

114.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$798

$25.43 IQD 33.3K

78.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,825

$60.4 IQD 79.1K

72.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,891

$40.78 IQD 53.4K

164.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.6K

$242 IQD 317.0K

314.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$176 IQD 230.4K

253.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$37.0K

$578 IQD 756.8K

264.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.4K

$339 IQD 443.7K

259.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.2K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

5.67

100.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $242 in 'aqrah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $25.00 in 'aqrah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $158 – making 'aqrah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Mexico City vs 'aqrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 97% more than 'aqrah, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,109 in 'aqrah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in 'aqrah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $739 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 67% less in 'aqrah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in 'aqrah, where all-in costs run around $739, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In 'aqrah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. 'aqrah costs $739 versus $1,456 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with 'aqrah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.