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 $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $733 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,160 in 'aqrah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $1,588 in 'aqrah, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 100% more than 'aqrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while 'aqrah is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.18 MX$228

$4.13 IQD 5,405

219.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$932

$25.33 IQD 33.2K

112.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.42 MX$163

$6.94 IQD 9,082

35.73%

Cappuccino

$3.55 MX$61.4

$2.56 IQD 3,354

38.67%

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

$1.62 MX$27.98

$0.36 IQD 478

350.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.11 MX$19.27

$0.21 IQD 270

428.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 MX$54.0

$2.86 IQD 3,746

9.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.63 MX$80.1

$2.79 IQD 3,656

65.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.43

$1.36 IQD 1,783

25.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.72 MX$47.02

$0.84 IQD 1,099

223.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.07

$1.60 IQD 2,096

19.37%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.86

$1.81 IQD 2,372

40.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.03 MX$174

$4.38 IQD 5,736

129.00%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.09 MX$140

$4.74 IQD 6,201

70.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.62 MX$201

$13.23 IQD 17.3K

-12.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 MX$51.3

$1.14 IQD 1,487

160.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.24

$1.15 IQD 1,507

57.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.82

$1.05 IQD 1,379

91.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 MX$35.20

$0.69 IQD 906

194.20%

Potato (1kg)

$2.12 MX$36.75

$0.69 IQD 905

207.25%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.25

$0.68 IQD 893

233.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.22

$0.67 IQD 877

108.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.55

$0.52 IQD 675

117.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.27 MX$73.9

$1.88 IQD 2,466

127.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.56 MX$269

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.39

$1.80 IQD 2,352

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.60 MX$62.2

$2.17 IQD 2,838

65.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.62

$0.39 IQD 513

-2.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.18 MX$332

$31.09 IQD 40.7K

-38.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.79

$2.28 IQD 2,988

-39.47%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.78

$1.52 IQD 1,994

-81.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 MX$94.2

$6.14 IQD 8,041

-11.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.30 MX$22.55

$0.54 IQD 706

140.74%

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

$18.7K MX$323.2K

$19.2K IQD 25.2M

-2.71%

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

$23.1K MX$400.1K

$19.6K IQD 25.6M

18.26%

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

$40.86 MX$707

$77.1 IQD 101.0K

-47.02%

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

$26.81 MX$464

$17.98 IQD 23.5K

49.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.96 MX$518

$35.11 IQD 46.0K

-14.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.0 MX$900

$36.07 IQD 47.2K

44.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.84 MX$464

$16.82 IQD 22.0K

59.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.30 MX$109

$7.76 IQD 10.2K

-18.81%

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

$436 MX$7,544

$154 IQD 202.1K

182.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.4K MX$180.2K

$3,257 IQD 4.3M

219.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.7 MX$980

$27.29 IQD 35.7K

107.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.38 MX$768

$25.64 IQD 33.6K

73.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,780

$61.7 IQD 80.8K

66.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,825

$41.75 IQD 54.7K

152.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,022 MX$17.7K

$242 IQD 316.5K

322.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MX$10.9K

$177 IQD 231.7K

256.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,136 MX$36.9K

$581 IQD 760.9K

267.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,243 MX$21.5K

$348 IQD 456.1K

256.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,064 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,115 MX$19.3K

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'aqrah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 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: $288 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 100% 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 $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,099 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 $1,467 in Mexico City and $733 in 'aqrah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 62% 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 $733, than in Mexico City at $1,467. 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 $733 versus $1,467 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.