Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Dhahran Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Dhahran

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $1,302 in Dhahran, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $1,999 in Dhahran, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $2,697 in Dhahran, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 12% more than Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Mexico City sits 9% above the global median, while Dhahran is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$228

$5.30 SAR 19.91

146.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 MX$936

$40.06 SAR 150

34.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$169

$7.35 SAR 27.58

31.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.56

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Cappuccino

$3.74 MX$65.1

$3.67 SAR 13.79

1.91%

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

$1.62 MX$28.13

$0.70 SAR 2.62

131.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.16 MX$20.23

$0.20 SAR 0.73

480.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MX$56.2

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.74 MX$82.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.68

$1.51 SAR 5.68

9.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.75 MX$47.95

$1.18 SAR 4.43

133.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MX$32.63

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-13.43%

Eggs

$2.50 MX$43.54

$2.36 SAR 8.86

5.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$178

$6.55 SAR 24.61

55.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$144

$8.74 SAR 32.82

-5.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$206

$13.55 SAR 50.9

-12.77%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.4

$2.17 SAR 8.15

38.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.54

$1.42 SAR 5.34

27.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.81

$1.58 SAR 5.94

26.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$34.74

$1.30 SAR 4.88

53.85%

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.30

$1.19 SAR 4.47

74.79%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.56

$0.98 SAR 3.66

131.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.36

$1.07 SAR 4.01

36.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.74

$0.57 SAR 2.15

89.47%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$75.7

$9.21 SAR 34.59

-52.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$296

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.18

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-62.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$325

$40.24 SAR 151

-53.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.08

$1.37 SAR 5.13

-2.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.87

$2.36 SAR 8.88

-88.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$91.5

$13.26 SAR 49.79

-60.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.27

$0.64 SAR 2.39

109.38%

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

$19.4K MX$338.0K

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

-38.97%

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

$23.8K MX$415.0K

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

-2.45%

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

$40.69 MX$709

$106 SAR 397

-61.50%

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

$26.87 MX$468

$36.75 SAR 138

-26.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$531

$72.3 SAR 271

-57.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$919

$184 SAR 689

-71.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$464

$35.54 SAR 133

-25.01%

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$113

$12.10 SAR 45.42

-46.20%

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

$428 MX$7,454

$403 SAR 1,514

6.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$182.8K

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

8.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$997

$59.7 SAR 224

-4.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$792

$74.7 SAR 281

-39.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,812

$85.8 SAR 322

21.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,878

$95.9 SAR 360

12.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MX$17.5K

$439 SAR 1,650

128.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$381 SAR 1,430

63.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$36.7K

$840 SAR 3,153

151.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,218 MX$21.2K

$633 SAR 2,377

92.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$67.6K

$1,109 SAR 4,164

250.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.4K

$1,053 SAR 3,955

92.98%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,038 MX$18.1K

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

-64.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

4.42

156.56%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $439 in Dhahran. 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 178% higher in Dhahran, 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 $40.00 in Dhahran. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $292 vs $198 – making Dhahran 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 Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 12% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $1,953 in Dhahran. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, 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 $1,456 in Mexico City and $1,302 in Dhahran. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 115% less in Dhahran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,302, than in Mexico City at $1,456. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhahran costs $1,302 versus $1,456 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Dhahran. 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.