Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Ha'il

For one person, living is cheaper in Ha'il: $1,040 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $6,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Ha'il
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,040
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Ha'il

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Ha'il actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $1,040 in Ha'il.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Ha'il $1,040

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $1,589 in Ha'il.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Ha'il $1,589

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $2,139 in Ha'il.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Ha'il $2,139

Living in Mexico City is roughly 51% more expensive than in Ha'il, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 16% above, Ha'il is 23% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$5.47 SAR 20.52
96.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$37.36 SAR 140
34.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$5.88 SAR 22.05
88.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.18 SAR 4.43
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.33 SAR 8.73
-
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$2.60 SAR 9.76
41.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$0.61 SAR 2.29
170.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$0.24 SAR 0.90
441.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$1.72 SAR 6.47
2.91%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$0.84 SAR 3.17
263.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$1.83 SAR 6.87
9.84%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$1.88 SAR 7.05
47.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$6.81 SAR 25.56
74.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$8.52 SAR 31.96
9.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$8.55 SAR 32.10
75.67%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$1.57 SAR 5.88
96.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$1.58 SAR 5.91
23.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$1.31 SAR 4.90
54.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$2.03 SAR 7.61
8.87%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$1.32 SAR 4.95
53.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$1.62 SAR 6.06
12.35%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.23 SAR 4.60
23.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$0.49 SAR 1.83
161.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$3.02 SAR 11.35
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 SAR 6.56
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.04 SAR 7.65
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$6.73 SAR 25.25
-21.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$1.05 SAR 3.93
-70.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$36.18 SAR 136
-45.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$2.68 SAR 10.07
-25.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$1.88 SAR 7.06
-71.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
$13.58 SAR 50.9
-58.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$0.61 SAR 2.27
149.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$44.7K SAR 167.8K
-52.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$21.6K SAR 81.0K
16.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$52.7 SAR 198
18.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$21.32 SAR 80.0
34.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$47.59 SAR 179
-27.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$67.4 SAR 253
-15.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
$26.99 SAR 101
-8.08%
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$14.85 SAR 55.7
-55.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$414 SAR 1,554
4.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$7,887 SAR 29.6K
48.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$43.06 SAR 162
64.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$54.6 SAR 205
-5.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$96.6 SAR 363
12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$87.9 SAR 330
27.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$245 SAR 918
329.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$366 SAR 1,373
81.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$362 SAR 1,359
547.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$566 SAR 2,123
116.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$2,369 SAR 8,890
50.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$1,359 SAR 5,099
45.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ha'il
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$1,087 SAR 4,080
-10.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.54
103.97%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ha'il: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Ha'il
$366 45% $299
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Ha'il
$180 44.3% $143
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Ha'il
$96 52.7% $107
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Ha'il
$127 17.9% $28
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Ha'il
$122 3.3% $4.1
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Ha'il
$97 37.8% $27
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Ha'il
$52 104% $27

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $245 in Ha'il. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ha'il pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Ha'il for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $180 per month, with Ha'il cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇸🇦 Ha'il
🕒 Local time
10:42 10:42 AM
19:42 7:42 PM
9 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
310,897
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Ha'il 13,300 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Ha'il

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ha'il: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Ha'il?
Ha'il wins on cost – living expenses run 51% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ha'il the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Ha'il?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Ha'il. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Ha'il?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $245 in Ha'il. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Ha'il?
Childcare runs $431 in Mexico City versus $414 in Ha'il. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Ha'il?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Ha'il?
At $1,040 in Ha'il versus $1,567 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ha'il but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ha'il the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Ha'il?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ha'il delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,040 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ha'il hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Ha'il?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ha'il 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 Ha'il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 51% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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