😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $685 in As Salt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,077 in As Salt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,468 in As Salt.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 142% more expensive than in As Salt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, As Salt is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$4.89JOD 3.46
143.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$21.12JOD 14.95
144.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$7.22JOD 5.11
58.03%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$2.17JOD 1.53
83.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$0.38JOD 0.27
336.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$0.29JOD 0.21
358.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$5.58JOD 3.95
-37.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$4.25JOD 3.00
38.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$1.25JOD 0.89
50.40%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$0.31JOD 0.22
948.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$1.52JOD 1.07
42.11%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$1.73JOD 1.23
67.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$4.72JOD 3.34
172.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$3.31JOD 2.34
203.63%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$12.84JOD 9.08
23.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$1.56JOD 1.11
110.90%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$1.45JOD 1.03
38.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$1.45JOD 1.03
51.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$0.77JOD 0.54
206.49%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$0.75JOD 0.53
173.33%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$0.55JOD 0.39
245.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.47JOD 0.33
242.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$0.58JOD 0.41
141.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$3.62JOD 2.56
50.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$14.21JOD 10.06
24.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$4.12JOD 2.92
-50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$4.98JOD 3.53
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$0.86JOD 0.61
-60.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$28.76JOD 20.36
-27.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$0.57JOD 0.41
268.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$1.44JOD 1.02
-61.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
$6.89JOD 4.87
-15.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$1.36JOD 0.96
18.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$21.0KJOD 14.9K
8.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
$25.4KJOD 18.0K
5.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$34.59JOD 24.48
88.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$11.14JOD 7.89
170.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$14.23JOD 10.07
161.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$28.02JOD 19.83
113.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
$35.55JOD 25.16
-25.32%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$7.16JOD 5.07
-1.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$139JOD 98.0
235.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$8,573JOD 6,067
54.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$24.71JOD 17.48
207.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$49.75JOD 35.21
12.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$50.1JOD 35.44
123.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$28.55JOD 20.20
322.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$141JOD 100
680.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$153JOD 109
369.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$248JOD 175
921.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$279JOD 198
362.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$562JOD 398
84.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
6.81
65.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for As Salt: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $141 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 84% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in As Salt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $195 per month, with As Salt 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 As Salt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or As Salt?
As Salt wins on cost – living expenses run 142% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making As Salt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in As Salt?
Average pay runs 84% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to As Salt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $141 in As Salt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in As Salt?
Dining out is cheaper in As Salt – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to As Salt?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $685 in As Salt – a 142% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in As Salt?
At $685 in As Salt versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in As Salt but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes As Salt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or As Salt?
Both work as nomad bases, but As Salt delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $685 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes As Salt hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to As Salt?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and As Salt 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find As Salt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 142% 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