Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hafar Al Batin Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Hafar Al Batin

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,157 in Hafar Al Batin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,751 in Hafar Al Batin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,345 in Hafar Al Batin.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 43% more expensive than in Hafar Al Batin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Hafar Al Batin is 15% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$205
$6.47 SAR 24.31
84.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$886
$37.25 SAR 140
38.52%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$196
$7.77 SAR 29.16
46.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.88 SAR 7.08
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12 SAR 7.97
-
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.6
$3.47 SAR 13.04
14.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.48
$0.87 SAR 3.27
90.80%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.77
$0.26 SAR 0.98
411.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.6
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$101
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.21
$1.95 SAR 7.31
-3.59%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$55.9
$1.17 SAR 4.39
177.78%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.10
$2.25 SAR 8.47
-4.00%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.72
$2.43 SAR 9.13
19.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$221
$7.50 SAR 28.16
71.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$8.00 SAR 30.05
25.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$272
$12.92 SAR 48.51
22.76%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.6
$2.15 SAR 8.08
53.02%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.44
$1.78 SAR 6.68
12.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.76
$1.55 SAR 5.81
41.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.44
$1.63 SAR 6.12
44.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.27
$1.19 SAR 4.48
72.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.64
$1.30 SAR 4.88
46.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$1.15 SAR 4.30
40.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.98
$0.58 SAR 2.19
141.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.82 SAR 10.60
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75 SAR 6.58
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.10 SAR 7.88
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$93.8
$6.84 SAR 25.67
-20.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$303
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.28
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.4
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.81
$1.09 SAR 4.10
-68.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$357
$35.34 SAR 133
-41.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$35.99
$2.95 SAR 11.08
-28.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$1.85 SAR 6.94
-69.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$99.8
$13.45 SAR 50.5
-56.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.56
$0.63 SAR 2.35
155.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$392.1K
$46.1K SAR 173.0K
-50.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$459.2K
$21.3K SAR 80.1K
25.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,119
$99.2 SAR 373
-34.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$517
$32.23 SAR 121
-6.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$638
$65.7 SAR 247
-43.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,026
$82.7 SAR 311
-27.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$456
$36.81 SAR 138
-27.87%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$13.51 SAR 50.7
-47.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$7,976
$340 SAR 1,276
36.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$227.8K
$6,607 SAR 24.8K
100.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,303
$50.2 SAR 189
51.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$960
$57.8 SAR 217
-3.18%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,920
$98.3 SAR 369
13.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,068
$87.6 SAR 329
37.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$18.9K
$581 SAR 2,184
89.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$345 SAR 1,297
108.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.4K
$866 SAR 3,252
192.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.2K
$560 SAR 2,102
131.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.5K
$2,354 SAR 8,841
69.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$35.9K
$1,396 SAR 5,243
49.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Hafar Al Batin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.8K
$1,373 SAR 5,155
-24.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.47
106.58%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Hafar Al Batin: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $581 in Hafar Al Batin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hafar Al Batin pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $37.00 in Hafar Al Batin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $205 per month, with Hafar Al Batin 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 Hafar Al Batin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Hafar Al Batin?
Hafar Al Batin wins on cost – living expenses run 43% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hafar Al Batin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Hafar Al Batin?
On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Hafar Al Batin. 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 Hafar Al Batin?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $581 in Hafar Al Batin. 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 Hafar Al Batin?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $340 in Hafar Al Batin. 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 Hafar Al Batin?
Supermarket bills run roughly 69% 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 Hafar Al Batin?
At $1,157 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hafar Al Batin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Hafar Al Batin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Hafar Al Batin?
Both work as nomad bases, but Hafar Al Batin delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,157 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Hafar Al Batin hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Hafar Al Batin?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Hafar Al Batin 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 Hafar Al Batin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 43% 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

Similar cities