😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $646 in Algiers.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,034 in Algiers.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,422 in Algiers.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 127% more expensive than Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Algiers is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.25DZD 431
305.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$24.07DZD 3,195
123.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.66DZD 619
102.15%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.02DZD 136
248.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.56DZD 74.6
189.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.21DZD 27.75
428.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$1.96DZD 260
59.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$2.35DZD 311
97.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.00DZD 133
70.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$0.16DZD 20.78
1600.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$1.82DZD 242
4.95%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.87DZD 248
35.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$8.90DZD 1,181
12.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.25DZD 697
54.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$16.67DZD 2,212
-30.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$3.06DZD 406
-2.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$2.97DZD 394
-39.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.76DZD 233
14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$0.88DZD 116
130.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$0.59DZD 78.4
259.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$0.50DZD 66.1
354.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.71DZD 94.7
97.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.28DZD 37.15
303.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$2.70DZD 359
58.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$7.14DZD 948
117.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.28DZD 170
37.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$2.09DZD 277
72.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.33DZD 43.98
15.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$11.80DZD 1,566
62.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.70DZD 92.8
97.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.34DZD 44.54
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$5.47DZD 725
-0.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$0.36DZD 48.09
261.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$35.3KDZD 4.7M
-47.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$34.1KDZD 4.5M
-32.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$40.87DZD 5,425
-0.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$9.56DZD 1,269
180.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$17.89DZD 2,374
67.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$24.51DZD 3,253
112.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$22.74DZD 3,018
18.03%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$6.29DZD 834
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$93.2DZD 12.4K
367.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$3,596DZD 477.3K
189.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$36.85DZD 4,890
53.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$46.31DZD 6,146
-4.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$76.4DZD 10.1K
34.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$77.4DZD 10.3K
36.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$222DZD 29.5K
360.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$154DZD 20.5K
308.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$446DZD 59.2K
378.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$261DZD 34.7K
375.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$2,602DZD 345.4K
49.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$1,402DZD 186.1K
47.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$342DZD 45.4K
225.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Algiers: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $222 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 226% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $24.00 in Algiers for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $208 per month, with Algiers 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 Algiers: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Algiers cheaper than Mexico City?
Algiers is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 127% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Algiers?
Mexico City pays 226% more on average, 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: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $222 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 Algiers?
Dining out is cheaper in Algiers – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $54.0 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 vs Algiers?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $646 in Algiers – a 127% 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 Algiers?
At $646 in Algiers versus $1,467 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 127% 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