😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $2,207 in Janub-as-surrah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $3,099 in Janub-as-surrah.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 11% more expensive than in Janub-as-surrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Janub-as-surrah is 2% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$7.64KWD 2.35
71.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$57.9KWD 17.81
-7.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$8.76KWD 2.69
10.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.49KWD 0.77
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.57KWD 1.10
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$5.55KWD 1.71
-32.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$0.64KWD 0.20
153.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$0.37KWD 0.11
213.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.48KWD 0.45
11.49%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$1.10KWD 0.34
150.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$1.67KWD 0.51
11.98%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$1.97KWD 0.60
26.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$4.46KWD 1.37
128.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$6.33KWD 1.95
30.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$9.90KWD 3.04
19.39%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.32KWD 0.71
29.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$1.61KWD 0.49
12.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$1.52KWD 0.47
31.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$1.42KWD 0.44
40.85%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$1.28KWD 0.39
62.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.14KWD 0.35
99.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$1.63KWD 0.50
-10.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$0.43KWD 0.13
151.16%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.85KWD 0.88
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.01KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.34KWD 0.41
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$2.87KWD 0.88
51.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$0.84KWD 0.26
-53.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$44.11KWD 13.56
-57.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$3.28KWD 1.01
-59.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$3.27KWD 1.01
-91.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$16.39KWD 5.04
-67.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$0.34KWD 0.10
294.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$20.5KKWD 6,294
-5.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$19.0KKWD 5,827
25.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$62.6KWD 19.24
-34.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$18.52KWD 5.69
45.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$25.60KWD 7.87
19.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$95.2KWD 29.25
-44.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$46.77KWD 14.38
-43.02%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$11.60KWD 3.57
-43.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$286KWD 87.9
49.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$6,180KWD 1,900
69.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$42.13KWD 12.95
35.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$42.17KWD 12.96
7.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$88.4KWD 27.17
17.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$81.2KWD 24.95
32.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$802KWD 246
25.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$614KWD 189
1.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$1,602KWD 492
31.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$1,284KWD 395
-5.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Janub-as-surrah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.14
58.82%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Janub-as-surrah: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $802 in Janub-as-surrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 vs $167, with Janub-as-surrah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Janub-as-surrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Janub-as-surrah?
Janub-as-surrah wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Janub-as-surrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Janub-as-surrah?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $1,972 in Janub-as-surrah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Janub-as-surrah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $802 in Janub-as-surrah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Janub-as-surrah?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Janub-as-surrah?
A monthly transit pass in Janub-as-surrah runs roughly 136% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Janub-as-surrah?
At $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Janub-as-surrah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Janub-as-surrah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Janub-as-surrah?
Both work as nomad bases, but Janub-as-surrah delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,315 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Janub-as-surrah hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Janub-as-surrah?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% 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