😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $1,427 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $2,254 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $3,080 in As-salimiyah, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 2% more than As-salimiyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and As-salimiyah sit above the global median – Mexico City by 9%, As-salimiyah by 7%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$9.73KWD 3.02
34.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$43.60KWD 13.51
23.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$7.93KWD 2.46
22.07%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.48KWD 0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63KWD 1.12
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$6.11KWD 1.89
-38.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.68KWD 0.21
138.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.35KWD 0.11
231.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.43KWD 0.44
15.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.90KWD 0.28
205.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.59KWD 0.49
17.61%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.05KWD 0.63
21.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$4.88KWD 1.51
109.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$6.23KWD 1.93
32.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$10.16KWD 3.15
16.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.01KWD 0.62
49.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.57KWD 0.49
15.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.57KWD 0.49
27.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.36KWD 0.42
47.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.26KWD 0.39
65.08%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.87KWD 0.27
160.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.59KWD 0.49
-8.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.49KWD 0.15
120.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$3.29KWD 1.02
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.01KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.38KWD 0.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$2.86KWD 0.89
52.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.12KWD 0.35
-65.18%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$49.19KWD 15.24
-62.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$3.32KWD 1.03
-59.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$3.17KWD 0.98
-91.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$16.63KWD 5.15
-68.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.32KWD 0.10
318.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$21.5KKWD 6,657
-9.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$19.9KKWD 6,169
19.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$38.74KWD 12.00
5.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$18.42KWD 5.71
45.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$25.68KWD 7.96
18.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$94.0KWD 29.14
-43.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$65.0KWD 20.13
-58.98%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$8.38KWD 2.60
-22.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$275KWD 85.2
55.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$6,685KWD 2,072
57.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$42.26KWD 13.10
35.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$41.90KWD 12.98
8.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$88.7KWD 27.47
17.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$68.6KWD 21.25
57.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$949KWD 294
5.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$710KWD 220
-12.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$1,858KWD 576
13.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$1,366KWD 423
-10.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
As-salimiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$2,794KWD 866
-62.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.14
58.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for As-salimiyah: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $949 in As-salimiyah. 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 169% higher in As-salimiyah, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $44.00 in As-salimiyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $164 – making As-salimiyah 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 As-salimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is As-salimiyah cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $2,140 in As-salimiyah. 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 As-salimiyah, 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 and in As-salimiyah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,456 in Mexico City and $1,427 in As-salimiyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 163% less in As-salimiyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in As-salimiyah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in As-salimiyah, where all-in costs run around $1,427, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In As-salimiyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or As-salimiyah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward As-salimiyah – 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 As-salimiyah?
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 As-salimiyah. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared