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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $968 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,327 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,686 in Ar-rustaq, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 50% more than Ar-rustaq, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Ar-rustaq is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$5.25 OMR 2.02

147.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$26.09 OMR 10.04

101.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$7.74 OMR 2.98

21.83%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$4.75 OMR 1.83

-24.84%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.54 OMR 0.21

198.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.25 OMR 0.10

360.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$12.22 OMR 4.71

-74.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$11.74 OMR 4.52

-58.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.99 OMR 0.77

-14.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.25 OMR 0.48

111.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$1.66 OMR 0.64

14.46%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.88 OMR 0.72

35.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$3.81 OMR 1.47

164.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$4.19 OMR 1.61

97.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.88 OMR 3.03

46.83%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.37 OMR 0.91

27.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.67 OMR 0.64

2.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.85 OMR 0.71

10.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.17 OMR 0.45

76.07%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$0.94 OMR 0.36

119.15%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.01 OMR 0.39

114.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$1.08 OMR 0.41

29.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.50 OMR 0.19

124.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$6.46 OMR 2.49

-33.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$15.78 OMR 6.07

-2.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$4.34 OMR 1.67

-61.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$7.75 OMR 2.98

-52.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$1.27 OMR 0.49

-70.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$1.54 OMR 0.59

-10.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.80 OMR 0.31

-65.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$10.61 OMR 4.08

-48.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.64 OMR 0.25

100.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$23.1K OMR 8,882

-17.74%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$21.5K OMR 8,269

9.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.02 MX$704

$105 OMR 40.54

-61.05%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.92 MX$462

$40.96 OMR 15.76

-34.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$70.5 OMR 27.14

-57.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$2.56 OMR 0.98

924.61%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$10.36 OMR 3.99

-40.35%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$427 MX$7,331

$131 OMR 50.5

225.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$3,733 OMR 1,437

186.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$20.56 OMR 7.91

176.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$25.92 OMR 9.98

72.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$38.82 OMR 14.94

169.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$51.3 OMR 19.74

106.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$153 OMR 58.9

549.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$206 OMR 79.3

201.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$389 OMR 150

445.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$204 OMR 78.6

513.94%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$4,401 OMR 1,694

-74.84%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Ar-rustaq: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $153 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 297% 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: $288 vs $222 – 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

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 50%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,452 in Ar-rustaq. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,447 in Mexico City and $968 in Ar-rustaq. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $131 in Ar-rustaq. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Ar-rustaq, where all-in costs run around $968, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Ar-rustaq it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.