😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $570 in El Oued.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $904 in El Oued.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $1,239 in El Oued.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 189% more expensive than in El Oued, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 20% above, El Oued is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$205
$2.93DZD 388
313.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$885
$20.71DZD 2,744
152.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$185
$4.41DZD 584
147.17%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.7
$1.32DZD 175
206.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.06
$1.18DZD 156
45.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.34
$0.51DZD 67.2
170.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.7
$1.49DZD 198
132.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.5
$2.22DZD 294
161.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.40
$0.92DZD 123
101.09%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.6
$0.16DZD 21.54
1912.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.33
$1.23DZD 163
69.92%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.28
$1.39DZD 184
109.35%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$212
$8.29DZD 1,099
50.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$4.17DZD 552
142.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$269
$14.62DZD 1,937
8.69%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.2
$2.18DZD 288
51.83%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.03
$2.84DZD 376
-25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.11
$1.12DZD 148
95.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.46
$0.93DZD 123
163.44%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.08
$0.64DZD 84.9
242.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.27
$0.51DZD 68.1
272.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.37
$0.74DZD 98.1
118.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.87
$0.26DZD 34.41
419.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.9
$2.73DZD 362
98.90%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$298
$7.38DZD 978
138.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.03
$1.38DZD 183
50.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.4
$1.91DZD 253
148.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.76
$0.19DZD 25.25
78.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$366
$6.18DZD 818
249.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.57
$0.55DZD 73.4
270.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.41DZD 54.1
41.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$5.07DZD 672
17.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.37
$0.37DZD 48.40
337.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$386.4K
$36.2KDZD 4.8M
-36.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$451.7K
$35.4KDZD 4.7M
-24.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,105
$39.13DZD 5,185
66.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$506
$9.32DZD 1,235
220.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$619
$11.96DZD 1,585
205.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,033
$21.54DZD 2,854
183.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$452
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$5.11DZD 677
34.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,681
$102DZD 13.5K
343.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$226.5K
$2,881DZD 381.7K
364.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,270
$32.88DZD 4,357
128.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$937
$35.34DZD 4,683
56.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,925
$70.3DZD 9,317
61.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,078
$78.1DZD 10.3K
57.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.2K
$162DZD 21.5K
599.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.1K
$107DZD 14.2K
566.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.6K
$280DZD 37.1K
818.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.2K
$214DZD 28.3K
512.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.6K
$1,296DZD 171.7K
208.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
El Oued
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
$267DZD 35.3K
292.56%
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: August 29, 2026
Last update for El Oued: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $162 in El Oued. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 293% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in El Oued for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $182 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 189% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $570 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 293% 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: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $162 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 $453 in Mexico City versus $102 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 89% 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 $570 in El Oued versus $1,646 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 189% 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