😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $609 in El Oued.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $966 in El Oued.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,323 in El Oued.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 141% more expensive than El Oued, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, El Oued is 55% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$2.98DZD 395
342.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$19.60DZD 2,599
175.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.22DZD 559
123.22%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$1.26DZD 167
181.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.57DZD 75.8
184.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.23DZD 30.50
382.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$1.98DZD 263
57.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$2.39DZD 317
93.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.03DZD 136
65.05%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.14DZD 18.61
1842.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.65DZD 218
15.76%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.80DZD 239
41.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$8.81DZD 1,168
13.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$5.34DZD 709
51.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$16.71DZD 2,216
-30.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$3.12DZD 414
-4.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$2.81DZD 372
-35.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.72DZD 228
16.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$0.75DZD 99.8
170.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$0.59DZD 78.7
259.32%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$0.50DZD 66.7
354.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.65DZD 85.9
115.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.30DZD 39.86
276.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$2.81DZD 372
51.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$6.01DZD 797
158.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.35DZD 179
30.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$2.13DZD 283
69.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.25DZD 33.39
52.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$17.74DZD 2,353
8.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.66DZD 87.4
109.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.34DZD 44.92
-17.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$5.34DZD 708
2.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.34DZD 44.74
282.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$32.6KDZD 4.3M
-42.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$34.0KDZD 4.5M
-31.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$40.05DZD 5,311
2.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$9.47DZD 1,256
183.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$16.98DZD 2,252
76.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$23.77DZD 3,153
118.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$5.26DZD 697
19.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$94.4DZD 12.5K
362.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$3,565DZD 472.9K
192.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$37.08DZD 4,918
52.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$45.40DZD 6,021
-2.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$75.7DZD 10.0K
35.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$75.9DZD 10.1K
39.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$195DZD 25.9K
423.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$117DZD 15.5K
441.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$275DZD 36.5K
675.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$182DZD 24.2K
581.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,133DZD 150.3K
244.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$975DZD 129.3K
111.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$246DZD 32.7K
352.87%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for El Oued: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $195 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 353% 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 $20.00 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $204 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 El Oued?
Mexico City and El Oued differ by about 141% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $609 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?
Mexico City pays 353% 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 do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and El Oued?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $195 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $94.4 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 $609 in El Oued versus $1,467 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 141% 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