😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $515 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $802 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $1,090 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 181% more expensive than Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Al-Qusayr is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$6.18SYP 682
109.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$27.45SYP 3,033
90.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$5.46SYP 603
77.47%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$1.49SYP 164
151.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$1.02SYP 113
52.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$0.72SYP 80.0
61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$1.56SYP 173
107.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$2.43SYP 269
101.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$0.95SYP 105
78.95%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$0.59SYP 65.1
352.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$1.67SYP 185
13.17%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$1.91SYP 211
31.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$3.05SYP 338
228.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$7.61SYP 841
12.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$11.40SYP 1,260
4.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$0.94SYP 104
215.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$1.82SYP 201
-1.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$1.00SYP 110
100.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$0.96SYP 106
104.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$0.63SYP 69.5
242.86%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$0.65SYP 72.3
249.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$0.38SYP 41.84
268.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$0.61SYP 67.7
81.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$3.07SYP 339
36.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$5.81SYP 642
184.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$1.02SYP 112
64.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$1.77SYP 195
102.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$1.03SYP 114
33.98%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$0.98SYP 108
-69.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$0.98SYP 108
450.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$1.01SYP 112
27.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$18.1KSYP 2.0M
4.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$20.8KSYP 2.3M
14.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$102SYP 11.2K
-60.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$8.33SYP 920
234.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$56.0SYP 6,193
-46.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$3.05SYP 337
105.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$43.52SYP 4,809
894.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$1,852SYP 204.6K
469.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$29.83SYP 3,296
91.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$25.47SYP 2,815
77.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$44.99SYP 4,971
126.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$57.1SYP 6,314
89.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
13.75
-17.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $27.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $168 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, Getting Around. The 181% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $773 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 Al-Qusayr?
Supermarket bills run roughly 74% 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 vs Al-Qusayr?
All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Mexico City versus $515 in Al-Qusayr – a 181% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Al-Qusayr?
At $515 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,448 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 181% 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