Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Algiers

For one person, living is cheaper in Algiers: $583 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $11,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Algiers
🇩🇿 Algeria
$583
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Algiers

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Algiers actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $583 in Algiers.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Algiers $583

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $963 in Algiers.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Algiers $963

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $1,342 in Algiers.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Algiers $1,342

Living in Mexico City is roughly 169% more expensive than in Algiers, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 16% above, Algiers is 57% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$3.44 DZD 460
212.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$28.38 DZD 3,799
77.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$4.26 DZD 571
160.56%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$1.08 DZD 145
240.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$0.63 DZD 83.9
161.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$0.29 DZD 39.03
348.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
$2.20 DZD 295
50.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$2.20 DZD 294
151.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$0.90 DZD 121
96.67%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$0.14 DZD 19.22
2078.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$1.16 DZD 156
73.28%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$1.18 DZD 159
134.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$8.15 DZD 1,090
46.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$4.06 DZD 544
129.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$14.35 DZD 1,922
4.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$2.03 DZD 272
51.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$2.72 DZD 364
-28.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$1.11 DZD 149
82.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$0.95 DZD 128
132.63%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$0.58 DZD 77.3
248.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$0.45 DZD 60.0
304.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$0.76 DZD 101
100.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$0.27 DZD 36.54
374.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$3.02 DZD 405
74.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
$6.55 DZD 877
146.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
$1.29 DZD 172
51.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$1.86 DZD 249
128.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$0.39 DZD 52.4
-20.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$6.71 DZD 898
195.83%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$0.55 DZD 73.1
263.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$0.47 DZD 62.4
12.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
$5.45 DZD 730
3.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$0.35 DZD 47.14
334.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$35.7K DZD 4.8M
-41.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$34.1K DZD 4.6M
-26.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$43.97 DZD 5,886
42.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$9.41 DZD 1,260
205.74%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$12.33 DZD 1,650
179.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$25.22 DZD 3,376
126.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
$27.41 DZD 3,669
-9.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$4.39 DZD 588
51.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$555 DZD 74.3K
-22.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$6,363 DZD 851.9K
84.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$32.70 DZD 4,378
116.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$34.43 DZD 4,609
50.54%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$67.6 DZD 9,050
61.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$80.8 DZD 10.8K
39.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$161 DZD 21.6K
552.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$128 DZD 17.1K
421.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$431 DZD 57.8K
443.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$236 DZD 31.6K
419.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$2,513 DZD 336.4K
41.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$1,368 DZD 183.1K
44.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$329 DZD 44.0K
196.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.3
113.21%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Algiers: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Algiers
$128 80.8% $537
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Algiers
$175 45.6% $147
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Algiers
$72 64.3% $131
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Algiers
$97 37.3% $58
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Algiers
$66 47.7% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Algiers
$34 51.7% $36
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Algiers
$11 56.7% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $161 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 197% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $28.00 in Algiers for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $175 per month, with Algiers cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇩🇿 Algiers
🕒 Local time
08:47 8:47 AM
15:47 3:47 PM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
3,415,811 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 134 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.47 USD). 1 EUR = 151 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.64 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Algiers 9,750 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Algiers

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Algiers cheaper than Mexico City?
Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 169% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Algiers?
Average pay runs 197% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Algiers?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $161 in Algiers. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Algiers?
Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $28.00 versus $50.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Algiers?
All in, you'll spend $1,567 per month in Mexico City versus $583 in Algiers – a 169% 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 Algiers?
At $583 in Algiers versus $1,567 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Algiers but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Algiers the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Algiers more family-friendly?
For families, Algiers 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 safer, Mexico City or Algiers?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Algiers are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Algiers gentler on the wallet – expenses run 169% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?