😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $519 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $808 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $1,097 in Al-Qusayr.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 179% more expensive than Al-Qusayr, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Al-Qusayr is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$6.07SYP 671
113.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$27.52SYP 3,041
91.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$5.44SYP 601
73.35%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.49SYP 165
139.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.99SYP 109
62.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.72SYP 79.2
59.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.57SYP 174
100.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$2.57SYP 284
89.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.04SYP 114
63.46%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.58SYP 64.4
355.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.69SYP 187
12.43%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.86SYP 206
36.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$3.13SYP 346
222.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$7.54SYP 834
9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$11.25SYP 1,243
2.84%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$0.86SYP 95.5
252.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.74SYP 192
-1.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.03SYP 113
99.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.94SYP 104
119.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.61SYP 67.4
237.70%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.65SYP 71.9
233.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.40SYP 44.26
250.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.62SYP 68.9
80.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.09SYP 341
38.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$5.92SYP 654
160.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.03SYP 113
62.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.75SYP 193
110.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.99SYP 109
39.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$1.02SYP 112
-72.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$0.99SYP 109
447.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.98SYP 108
30.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$18.3KSYP 2.0M
3.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$20.7KSYP 2.3M
13.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$101SYP 11.2K
-59.37%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$8.36SYP 924
222.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$55.6SYP 6,140
-46.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$3.01SYP 333
105.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$43.32SYP 4,787
885.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$1,822SYP 201.4K
486.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$29.26SYP 3,233
94.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$25.83SYP 2,854
73.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$45.15SYP 4,989
131.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$56.1SYP 6,204
88.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Al-Qusayr
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
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 7, 2026
Last update for Al-Qusayr: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $28.00 in Al-Qusayr for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 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 179% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,171 in Mexico City and $779 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 72% 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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City versus $519 in Al-Qusayr – a 179% 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 $519 in Al-Qusayr versus $1,447 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 179% 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