Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ar-rustaq Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ar-rustaq

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $950 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,323 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,696 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 56% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$5.05 OMR 1.94
157.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$25.79 OMR 9.91
105.78%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$7.58 OMR 2.91
28.23%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$4.85 OMR 1.86
-22.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$0.51 OMR 0.19
207.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$0.25 OMR 0.10
352.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$12.39 OMR 4.76
-74.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$11.75 OMR 4.51
-60.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.93 OMR 0.74
-16.06%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$1.18 OMR 0.45
129.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$1.68 OMR 0.64
11.90%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$1.85 OMR 0.71
35.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$3.87 OMR 1.48
160.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$4.11 OMR 1.58
101.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$8.03 OMR 3.08
48.69%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$2.29 OMR 0.88
24.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$1.74 OMR 0.67
0.57%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$1.78 OMR 0.68
16.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$1.16 OMR 0.45
69.83%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$1.03 OMR 0.39
109.71%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$0.98 OMR 0.37
122.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$1.09 OMR 0.42
27.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$0.55 OMR 0.21
103.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$6.19 OMR 2.38
-32.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$15.45 OMR 5.93
-7.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$4.18 OMR 1.61
-57.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$7.72 OMR 2.97
-52.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-69.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$1.58 OMR 0.61
-12.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$0.75 OMR 0.29
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$10.51 OMR 4.03
-48.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$0.64 OMR 0.24
110.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$22.8K OMR 8,737
-17.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$21.7K OMR 8,331
6.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$105 OMR 40.44
-61.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$41.62 OMR 15.98
-33.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$68.8 OMR 26.41
-55.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$2.66 OMR 1.02
888.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$10.51 OMR 4.04
-40.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$128 OMR 49.23
240.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$3,695 OMR 1,419
183.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$20.95 OMR 8.05
170.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$26.33 OMR 10.11
70.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$39.52 OMR 15.18
160.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$52.5 OMR 20.17
105.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$158 OMR 60.7
532.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$207 OMR 79.5
199.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$386 OMR 148
453.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$206 OMR 79.1
499.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ar-rustaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$4,502 OMR 1,729
-76.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
5.15
120.19%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $158 in Ar-rustaq. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 322% higher in Ar-rustaq, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $26.00 in Ar-rustaq. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $219 – making Ar-rustaq the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Ar-rustaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ar-rustaq cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,426 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ar-rustaq, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Ar-rustaq?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $950 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $128 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Ar-rustaq?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $950, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Ar-rustaq more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ar-rustaq – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Ar-rustaq?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Ar-rustaq. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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