😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $539 in El Bayadh.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $877 in El Bayadh.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,215 in El Bayadh.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 208% more expensive than in El Bayadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, El Bayadh is 61% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$2.88DZD 384
313.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$18.90DZD 2,521
173.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$3.45DZD 460
230.72%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$0.82DZD 109
386.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$0.62DZD 83.4
167.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$0.31DZD 40.90
329.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$1.40DZD 187
147.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$2.00DZD 266
195.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$1.00DZD 134
88.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$0.14DZD 18.45
2221.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$1.18DZD 158
83.05%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$1.40DZD 187
107.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$8.29DZD 1,106
55.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$4.17DZD 556
141.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$14.86DZD 1,982
6.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$2.19DZD 292
50.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$2.93DZD 390
-31.40%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$1.15DZD 153
91.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$0.99DZD 132
138.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$0.64DZD 84.9
220.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$0.51DZD 68.0
272.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.81DZD 108
98.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$0.26DZD 34.96
438.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$2.83DZD 378
92.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$7.04DZD 939
150.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$1.30DZD 173
58.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$1.85DZD 247
152.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$0.15DZD 20.06
126.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$6.02DZD 803
245.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$0.60DZD 79.7
250.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$0.38DZD 51.1
47.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
$4.52DZD 603
28.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$0.34DZD 45.16
373.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$37.1KDZD 4.9M
-38.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
$34.9KDZD 4.7M
-23.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$38.05DZD 5,074
71.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$9.95DZD 1,327
202.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$10.96DZD 1,461
239.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$21.48DZD 2,864
178.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$4.82DZD 642
46.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$89.6DZD 12.0K
418.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$3,789DZD 505.4K
250.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$30.61DZD 4,082
147.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$35.19DZD 4,693
58.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$67.4DZD 8,989
65.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$82.0DZD 10.9K
46.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$178DZD 23.7K
520.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$101DZD 13.4K
614.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$283DZD 37.8K
793.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$211DZD 28.2K
512.39%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
$1,330DZD 177.4K
200.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Bayadh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.3
113.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for El Bayadh: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $178 in El Bayadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $19.00 in El Bayadh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $184 per month, with El Bayadh 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 El Bayadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or El Bayadh?
El Bayadh wins on cost – living expenses run 208% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Bayadh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in El Bayadh?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $808 in El Bayadh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to El Bayadh?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $178 in El Bayadh. 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 El Bayadh?
Dining out is cheaper in El Bayadh – a meal for two runs $19.00 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 El Bayadh?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $539 in El Bayadh – a 208% 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 El Bayadh?
At $539 in El Bayadh versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Bayadh but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes El Bayadh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or El Bayadh?
Both work as nomad bases, but El Bayadh delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $539 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes El Bayadh hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to El Bayadh?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and El Bayadh 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 El Bayadh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 208% 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