Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Al-'amarah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Al-'amarah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $671 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,086 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,501 in Al-'amarah, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 116% more than Al-'amarah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Al-'amarah is 50% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$4.02 IQD 5,267

222.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$24.90 IQD 32.6K

111.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.02 IQD 9,193

34.33%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$2.60 IQD 3,401

37.31%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.40 IQD 521

302.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.19 IQD 255

505.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$2.85 IQD 3,736

10.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.89 IQD 3,779

68.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.81 IQD 2,364

-6.08%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$0.79 IQD 1,030

234.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.12 IQD 1,462

69.64%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.55 IQD 2,027

63.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$4.54 IQD 5,951

122.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$4.64 IQD 6,074

78.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$12.96 IQD 17.0K

-10.73%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$0.91 IQD 1,197

232.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.08 IQD 1,416

58.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$0.87 IQD 1,136

135.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$0.39 IQD 514

428.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.76 IQD 989

171.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$0.35 IQD 452

520.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.63 IQD 827

122.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.47 IQD 617

138.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$1.97 IQD 2,573

117.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.79 IQD 2,341

-6.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.11 IQD 2,769

74.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.37 IQD 484

2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$31.73 IQD 41.5K

-39.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$1.67 IQD 2,188

-17.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$1.48 IQD 1,936

-81.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$6.10 IQD 7,988

-11.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.31 IQD 404

312.90%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$19.4K IQD 25.4M

-2.15%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$20.3K IQD 26.6M

15.63%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$76.1 IQD 99.6K

-46.08%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$17.95 IQD 23.5K

49.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$34.06 IQD 44.6K

-12.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$22.68 IQD 29.7K

130.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$16.99 IQD 22.2K

54.38%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$7.72 IQD 10.1K

-19.95%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$154 IQD 201.2K

177.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$3,248 IQD 4.3M

229.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$27.51 IQD 36.0K

106.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$24.93 IQD 32.6K

79.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$61.8 IQD 80.9K

69.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$41.10 IQD 53.8K

157.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$331 IQD 434.1K

200.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$132 IQD 173.3K

369.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$441 IQD 578.0K

381.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$346 IQD 452.8K

262.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$581 IQD 760.9K

571.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$506 IQD 663.1K

118.65%

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 Al-'amarah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $331 in Al-'amarah. 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 119% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $25.00 in Al-'amarah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $153 – making Al-'amarah 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 Al-'amarah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 116%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,006 in Al-'amarah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 88% 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 $25.00 in Al-'amarah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-'amarah, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Al-'amarah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'amarah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Al-'amarah. 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.