😐A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $815 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,378 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,941 in Al Mafraq, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 104% more than Al Mafraq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Al Mafraq is 40% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$7.07JOD 5.00
68.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$66.8JOD 47.30
-22.79%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$6.89JOD 4.88
65.60%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$4.39JOD 3.11
-9.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$0.65JOD 0.46
155.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$0.60JOD 0.42
121.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$8.50JOD 6.02
-59.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$11.14JOD 7.89
-47.04%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$1.43JOD 1.01
31.47%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$0.66JOD 0.46
392.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$1.53JOD 1.08
41.18%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$2.38JOD 1.68
21.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$9.55JOD 6.76
34.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$6.60JOD 4.67
52.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$12.78JOD 9.05
24.10%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$2.46JOD 1.74
33.74%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$2.03JOD 1.44
-0.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$1.83JOD 1.29
20.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$0.85JOD 0.60
177.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$0.93JOD 0.66
120.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$0.91JOD 0.64
108.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.65JOD 0.46
147.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$0.66JOD 0.46
112.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$3.92JOD 2.77
39.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$21.25JOD 15.04
-16.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$5.01JOD 3.54
-58.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$5.22JOD 3.70
-10.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$0.61JOD 0.43
244.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$1.44JOD 1.02
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
$7.06JOD 5.00
-17.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$1.65JOD 1.17
-2.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$34.7KJOD 24.6K
-34.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
$34.4KJOD 24.3K
-22.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$127JOD 89.9
-48.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$15.95JOD 11.29
88.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$32.31JOD 22.86
15.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$11.23JOD 7.95
-37.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$489JOD 346
-5.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$9,400JOD 6,652
41.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$63.8JOD 45.16
18.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$81.7JOD 57.8
-31.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$124JOD 87.9
-9.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$86.9JOD 61.5
38.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Al Mafraq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$1,053JOD 745
-1.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.81
65.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Al Mafraq: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Salaries run about 1% higher in Al Mafraq, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $67.0 in Al Mafraq. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $266 in Al Mafraq – so Al Mafraq 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 Al Mafraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Mafraq cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,223 in Al Mafraq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Al Mafraq?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $67.0 in Al Mafraq. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Al Mafraq?
Groceries cost about 30% 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.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Al Mafraq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Mafraq, where all-in costs run around $815, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Al Mafraq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Al Mafraq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Mafraq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Al Mafraq?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Mafraq. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared