😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $623 in El Oued.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $981 in El Oued.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,339 in El Oued.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 134% more expensive than in El Oued, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, El Oued is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$2.94DZD 389
344.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$19.03DZD 2,520
182.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$4.23DZD 560
128.84%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$1.27DZD 169
194.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.62DZD 81.7
161.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.25DZD 33.25
364.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$1.91DZD 253
69.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$2.39DZD 316
98.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.03DZD 136
60.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$0.15DZD 20.37
1733.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.56DZD 207
19.87%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.88DZD 248
32.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$8.81DZD 1,166
15.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$5.31DZD 703
55.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$16.32DZD 2,161
-27.57%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$3.22DZD 426
-6.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$2.91DZD 385
-37.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$1.73DZD 229
15.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$0.78DZD 104
156.41%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$0.59DZD 78.1
252.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$0.50DZD 66.4
354.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$0.62DZD 82.1
135.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.30DZD 40.01
260.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.79DZD 370
55.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$7.18DZD 951
136.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.34DZD 177
29.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$2.17DZD 287
64.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.25DZD 33.23
56.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$17.17DZD 2,273
8.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$0.66DZD 87.7
101.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$0.34DZD 44.88
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$5.18DZD 686
1.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.36DZD 47.83
272.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$32.4KDZD 4.3M
-40.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$33.5KDZD 4.4M
-28.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$40.60DZD 5,376
0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$9.44DZD 1,249
184.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$16.84DZD 2,230
81.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$23.76DZD 3,146
122.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$5.51DZD 730
18.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$96.0DZD 12.7K
346.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$3,668DZD 485.6K
186.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$36.58DZD 4,844
56.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$45.80DZD 6,065
-0.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$74.4DZD 9,849
39.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$76.4DZD 10.1K
41.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$192DZD 25.5K
421.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$118DZD 15.6K
429.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$271DZD 35.9K
678.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$180DZD 23.9K
575.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$1,114DZD 147.5K
248.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$1,172DZD 155.2K
73.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$261DZD 34.6K
297.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for El Oued: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $192 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 297% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $19.00 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $206 per month, with El Oued 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 Oued: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in El Oued?
Mexico City and El Oued differ by about 134% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $623 including rent). El Oued is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or El Oued?
Average pay runs 297% 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 do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in El Oued?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $192 in El Oued. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and El Oued?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $96.0 in El Oued. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 42% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $623 in El Oued versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in El Oued but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes El Oued the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and El Oued?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or El Oued safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and El Oued are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or El Oued?
Expats usually find El Oued gentler on the wallet – expenses run 134% 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