😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $664 in Algiers.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,060 in Algiers.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,457 in Algiers.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 119% more expensive than in Algiers, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Algiers is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$3.28DZD 435
298.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$23.92DZD 3,170
124.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$4.75DZD 630
103.79%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$0.98DZD 130
281.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.62DZD 81.7
161.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.21DZD 27.71
452.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$2.00DZD 264
61.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$2.34DZD 311
102.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.00DZD 132
65.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.16DZD 20.96
1618.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.83DZD 243
2.19%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$1.79DZD 237
39.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$9.06DZD 1,201
12.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$5.35DZD 709
54.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$16.43DZD 2,177
-28.06%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$3.23DZD 428
-6.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.84DZD 376
-36.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.72DZD 228
16.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.93DZD 123
115.05%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.60DZD 79.1
246.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.46DZD 60.9
393.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.72DZD 95.1
102.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.30DZD 40.20
260.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$2.73DZD 362
59.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.86DZD 909
147.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$1.29DZD 171
34.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.06DZD 273
73.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.33DZD 43.82
18.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$11.46DZD 1,519
63.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.67DZD 88.4
98.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.37DZD 48.65
-24.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$5.69DZD 754
-7.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.34DZD 44.67
294.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-46.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-28.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$40.77DZD 5,403
-0.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$9.30DZD 1,233
188.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$17.75DZD 2,352
71.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$24.80DZD 3,287
112.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$22.88DZD 3,032
16.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$6.22DZD 824
4.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$94.9DZD 12.6K
350.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$3,611DZD 478.5K
190.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$36.09DZD 4,782
58.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$45.21DZD 5,991
0.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$76.5DZD 10.1K
36.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$77.8DZD 10.3K
38.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$222DZD 29.5K
350.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$152DZD 20.2K
309.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$435DZD 57.6K
385.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$257DZD 34.0K
374.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$2,535DZD 336.0K
53.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,386DZD 183.7K
46.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Algiers
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$334DZD 44.2K
210.87%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Algiers: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $222 in Algiers. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 211% 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 $292 vs $207 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 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Algiers?
Average pay runs 211% 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: $1,003 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 in 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 and in Algiers?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $664 in Algiers – a 119% 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 $664 in Algiers versus $1,456 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 119% 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