Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Abha Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Abha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $1,134 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,921 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $2,709 in Abha, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 28% more than Abha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Abha is 16% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$5.25 SAR 19.68

147.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$53.1 SAR 199

-0.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.92 SAR 29.72

19.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$3.11 SAR 11.67

14.79%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.59 SAR 2.20

172.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.23 SAR 0.87

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.85 SAR 6.94

-8.11%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.48 SAR 1.80

450.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$2.06 SAR 7.72

-7.77%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$2.91 SAR 10.91

-12.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$5.81 SAR 21.80

73.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$8.83 SAR 33.14

-6.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$16.66 SAR 62.5

-30.55%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$1.86 SAR 6.97

62.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.61 SAR 6.04

6.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.47 SAR 5.51

39.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.69 SAR 6.34

21.89%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.41 SAR 5.28

46.10%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.22 SAR 4.58

77.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.91 SAR 3.42

53.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.59 SAR 2.20

89.83%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.36 SAR 16.38

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 SAR 5.73

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$9.44 SAR 35.41

-54.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.80 SAR 3.00

-52.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$40.67 SAR 153

-53.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$2.74 SAR 10.27

-49.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$2.71 SAR 10.17

-89.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$13.28 SAR 49.82

-59.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.64 SAR 2.40

100.00%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$24.6K SAR 92.4K

-22.92%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$22.9K SAR 85.9K

2.54%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$82.2 SAR 309

-50.12%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$37.47 SAR 141

-28.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$54.0 SAR 202

-44.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$121 SAR 453

-56.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$27.13 SAR 102

-3.32%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$18.02 SAR 67.6

-65.70%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$238 SAR 892

79.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$5,340 SAR 20.0K

100.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$38.22 SAR 143

48.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$66.4 SAR 249

-32.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$179 SAR 670

-41.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$88.6 SAR 333

19.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$352 SAR 1,322

182.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$265 SAR 994

134.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$556 SAR 2,085

282.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$637 SAR 2,390

96.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$2,403 SAR 9,016

62.44%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$1,312 SAR 4,924

59.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$2,218 SAR 8,322

-50.07%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Abha: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $352 in Abha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 100% higher in Abha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $53.0 in Abha. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $205 in Abha – so Abha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Abha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 28% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,701 in Abha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 40% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $53.0 in Abha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,134, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Abha 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. Abha costs $1,134 versus $1,447 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 Abha. 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.