😐A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $743 in Baghdadi, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,118 in Baghdadi, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,492 in Baghdadi, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 100% more than Baghdadi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Baghdadi is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$5.03IQD 6,588
158.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$17.32IQD 22.7K
206.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$6.91IQD 9,057
40.67%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.75IQD 2,287
114.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.42IQD 553
273.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.24IQD 314
370.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.98IQD 3,905
6.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.79IQD 3,658
67.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.09IQD 1,432
48.62%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.62IQD 819
337.10%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.29IQD 2,996
-17.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.76IQD 2,310
42.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$5.76IQD 7,545
75.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$4.53IQD 5,931
83.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$9.42IQD 12.3K
26.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$1.03IQD 1,346
177.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.01IQD 1,329
73.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.02IQD 1,330
103.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.53IQD 691
271.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.54IQD 707
300.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.67IQD 884
225.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.64IQD 835
117.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.48IQD 631
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$1.77IQD 2,316
137.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$13.64IQD 17.9K
4.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.79IQD 2,349
-1.68%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.17IQD 2,844
69.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.37IQD 480
5.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$31.34IQD 41.1K
-40.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$2.34IQD 3,068
-40.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.53IQD 2,011
-80.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.98IQD 7,839
-9.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.53IQD 699
154.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$19.2KIQD 25.2M
-1.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$19.9KIQD 26.0M
16.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$77.0IQD 100.9K
-46.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$17.90IQD 23.5K
53.63%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$34.87IQD 45.7K
-12.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$37.02IQD 48.5K
44.33%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$16.75IQD 21.9K
57.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$7.75IQD 10.2K
-19.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$153IQD 200.9K
184.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,309IQD 4.3M
216.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$27.55IQD 36.1K
106.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$25.49IQD 33.4K
75.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$61.3IQD 80.3K
67.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$41.54IQD 54.4K
159.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$246IQD 321.7K
307.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$177IQD 231.7K
250.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$574IQD 752.4K
272.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$345IQD 452.1K
257.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,479IQD 1.9M
161.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$502IQD 658.2K
364.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Baghdadi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$491IQD 643.8K
117.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.67
100.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Baghdadi: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $246 in Baghdadi. 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 117% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $17.00 in Baghdadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $286 vs $171 – making Baghdadi 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 Baghdadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Baghdadi cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 100%, 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 $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,115 in Baghdadi. 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 Baghdadi, 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 Baghdadi?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,484 in Mexico City and $743 in Baghdadi. 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 68% less in Baghdadi. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Baghdadi?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Baghdadi, where all-in costs run around $743, than in Mexico City at $1,484. In Baghdadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Baghdadi more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Baghdadi – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Baghdadi. 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