😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $696 in As Salt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,097 in As Salt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,498 in As Salt.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 113% more expensive than As Salt, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, As Salt is 48% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$4.25JOD 3.02
205.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$21.08JOD 14.94
151.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.88JOD 4.88
41.28%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.44JOD 1.02
160.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.33JOD 0.24
375.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.27JOD 0.19
318.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$5.50JOD 3.90
-42.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$4.11JOD 2.91
13.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.44JOD 1.02
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.36JOD 0.26
652.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.68JOD 1.19
11.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.72JOD 1.22
45.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$4.12JOD 2.92
144.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.33JOD 3.07
91.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$11.56JOD 8.19
3.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.42JOD 1.01
101.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.48JOD 1.05
18.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.39JOD 0.98
49.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.58JOD 0.41
239.66%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.73JOD 0.52
195.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.75JOD 0.53
190.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.66JOD 0.47
110.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.58JOD 0.41
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$3.63JOD 2.58
15.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$13.87JOD 9.84
2.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$4.82JOD 3.42
-63.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$5.39JOD 3.82
-31.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.92JOD 0.65
-57.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$28.20JOD 19.99
-33.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.62JOD 0.44
124.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.40JOD 0.99
-78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$7.21JOD 5.11
-24.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$1.32JOD 0.94
2.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$20.8KJOD 14.8K
-9.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$25.5KJOD 18.1K
-9.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$35.16JOD 24.93
16.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$11.14JOD 7.90
146.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$14.18JOD 10.05
114.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$33.16JOD 23.51
61.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$35.00JOD 24.81
-24.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$8.99JOD 6.37
-30.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$141JOD 99.6
210.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$5,488JOD 3,891
90.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$24.66JOD 17.48
130.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$48.85JOD 34.63
-8.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$49.07JOD 34.79
109.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$28.76JOD 20.39
275.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$144JOD 102
595.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$158JOD 112
292.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$242JOD 172
782.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$277JOD 197
345.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
As Salt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$560JOD 397
90.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.27
55.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for As Salt: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $144 in As Salt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 90% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in As Salt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $201 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 113% 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 As Salt?
Mexico City pays 90% more on average, 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 vs As Salt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $144 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 vs As Salt?
Dining out is cheaper in As Salt – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $53.0 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 $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $696 in As Salt – a 113% 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 As Salt?
At $696 in As Salt versus $1,484 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 $696 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 113% 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