😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $903 in Al Fallujah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,395 in Al Fallujah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,888 in Al Fallujah.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 62% more expensive than Al Fallujah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Al Fallujah is 33% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$5.20IQD 6,811
153.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$36.76IQD 48.1K
46.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$7.84IQD 10.3K
20.15%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$3.06IQD 4,002
16.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.37IQD 479
337.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.21IQD 280
428.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.54IQD 4,639
-11.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.78IQD 3,647
66.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.35IQD 1,770
25.93%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.79IQD 1,028
244.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.58IQD 2,066
20.89%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.72IQD 2,247
47.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$4.44IQD 5,818
125.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.00IQD 6,553
61.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$14.16IQD 18.5K
-17.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.27IQD 1,667
133.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.17IQD 1,529
54.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.01IQD 1,317
99.01%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$0.71IQD 929
185.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$0.69IQD 901
207.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.63IQD 826
260.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.63IQD 828
122.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.62IQD 816
82.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$2.08IQD 2,730
105.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$13.42IQD 17.6K
15.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.78IQD 2,329
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.11IQD 2,769
70.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.39IQD 517
-2.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$30.68IQD 40.2K
-37.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$3.88IQD 5,084
-64.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.49IQD 1,947
-81.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$7.64IQD 10.0K
-28.66%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.56IQD 737
132.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$20.3KIQD 26.6M
-8.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$19.6KIQD 25.7M
18.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$177IQD 232.0K
-76.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$25.63IQD 33.6K
4.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$40.43IQD 52.9K
-25.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$36.60IQD 47.9K
42.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$16.55IQD 21.7K
62.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$7.52IQD 9,850
-16.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$168IQD 220.6K
158.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$3,601IQD 4.7M
189.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$28.94IQD 37.9K
95.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$30.14IQD 39.5K
47.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$65.1IQD 85.3K
58.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$43.19IQD 56.6K
144.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$246IQD 322.2K
315.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$177IQD 231.5K
256.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$588IQD 769.6K
263.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$348IQD 455.9K
257.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Al Fallujah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$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 Al Fallujah: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $246 in Al Fallujah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Al Fallujah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $190 per month, with Al Fallujah 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
Mexico City vs Al Fallujah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Al Fallujah?
Al Fallujah wins on cost – living expenses run 62% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Fallujah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City vs Al Fallujah?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,355 in Al Fallujah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Al Fallujah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $246 in Al Fallujah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Al Fallujah?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $168 in Al Fallujah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Al Fallujah?
Supermarket bills run roughly 52% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Al Fallujah?
At $903 in Al Fallujah versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Fallujah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Al Fallujah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Al Fallujah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Fallujah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $903 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Fallujah hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Fallujah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 62% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared