😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $643 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,032 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,422 in Al-Qusayr.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 158% more expensive than in Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Al-Qusayr is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$10.04SYP 1,220
18.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$44.68SYP 5,429
15.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$7.11SYP 864
60.48%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$3.63SYP 442
9.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$2.29SYP 278
-27.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.86SYP 104
54.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.87SYP 227
85.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.95SYP 358
100.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.04SYP 127
80.77%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.38SYP 46.66
755.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.66SYP 202
30.12%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.54SYP 188
88.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$3.99SYP 485
222.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.81SYP 706
72.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$13.74SYP 1,669
15.43%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$1.06SYP 129
210.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.35SYP 164
48.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.10SYP 134
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.06SYP 128
122.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$0.75SYP 90.6
173.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$0.79SYP 96.4
140.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.41SYP 49.27
292.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.66SYP 79.9
112.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$2.82SYP 342
93.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$5.90SYP 717
199.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.06SYP 129
94.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$2.91SYP 353
60.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$1.02SYP 124
105.88%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$1.47SYP 179
-61.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$7.62SYP 926
-23.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$3.60SYP 438
-55.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$14.8KSYP 1.8M
53.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$19.4KSYP 2.4M
38.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$139SYP 16.9K
-53.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$9.79SYP 1,190
207.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$47.13SYP 5,726
-21.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$5.46SYP 664
28.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$66.1SYP 8,025
603.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$1,776SYP 215.8K
647.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$28.15SYP 3,420
169.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$39.20SYP 4,763
42.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$59.2SYP 7,191
89.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$57.3SYP 6,956
110.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
14.25
-20.70%
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-Qusayr: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $45.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $169 per month, with Al-Qusayr 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-Qusayr: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al-Qusayr cheaper than Mexico City?
Al-Qusayr is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 158% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $964 in Al-Qusayr 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 do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Al-Qusayr?
Supermarket bills run roughly 105% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Al-Qusayr?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $643 in Al-Qusayr – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Al-Qusayr?
At $643 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al-Qusayr but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Qusayr the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Al-Qusayr more family-friendly?
For families, Al-Qusayr is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al-Qusayr gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% 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