😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,165 in Khafji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,836 in Khafji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,506 in Khafji.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 27% more expensive than Khafji, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Khafji is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.26SAR 12.21
298.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$53.5SAR 201
-0.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$5.21SAR 19.53
86.56%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.88SAR 3.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.65SAR 6.17
-
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$2.89SAR 10.84
29.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.85SAR 3.20
84.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.34SAR 1.29
232.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.69SAR 6.35
-4.14%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.47SAR 5.52
84.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$2.11SAR 7.91
-10.90%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$2.30SAR 8.61
9.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.13SAR 23.00
64.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$7.06SAR 26.49
17.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$10.05SAR 37.70
18.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.16SAR 8.11
32.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.48SAR 5.55
18.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.41SAR 5.27
47.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.65SAR 6.19
19.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.22SAR 4.58
77.05%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.34SAR 5.03
62.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$1.35SAR 5.08
2.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.54SAR 2.03
107.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.06SAR 15.24
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.60SAR 6.00
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.98SAR 7.42
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$8.00SAR 30.01
-47.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.08SAR 4.05
-63.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$40.02SAR 150
-53.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$3.37SAR 12.64
-58.75%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$1.86SAR 6.96
-83.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$13.57SAR 50.9
-60.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.64SAR 2.39
110.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$22.9KSAR 85.7K
-17.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$20.9KSAR 78.2K
11.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$115SAR 431
-64.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$38.43SAR 144
-28.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$62.6SAR 235
-51.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$87.6SAR 328
-38.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$35.99SAR 135
-26.92%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$15.60SAR 58.5
-59.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$131SAR 492
232.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,941SAR 14.8K
165.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$68.0SAR 255
-16.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$66.4SAR 249
-32.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$93.1SAR 349
10.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$84.8SAR 318
27.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$437SAR 1,639
128.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$376SAR 1,410
64.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$845SAR 3,169
152.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$613SAR 2,298
101.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$2,079SAR 7,795
85.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$1,534SAR 5,752
52.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.33
161.89%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Khafji: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $437 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $53.0 in Khafji. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $185, with Khafji 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 Khafji: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Khafji cheaper than Mexico City?
Khafji is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $1,748 in Khafji 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.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Khafji?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $437 in Khafji. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Khafji?
All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $1,165 in Khafji – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Khafji runs roughly 114% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Khafji?
At $1,165 in Khafji versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Khafji but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Khafji the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Khafji more family-friendly?
For families, Khafji is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Khafji gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% 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