😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,203 in Khafji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $1,853 in Khafji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $2,503 in Khafji.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 22% more expensive than in Khafji, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Khafji is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$3.16SAR 11.88
315.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$53.4SAR 201
0.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$4.92SAR 18.47
89.63%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.96SAR 3.61
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$2.98SAR 11.18
24.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.90SAR 3.39
77.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.37SAR 1.40
202.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.64SAR 6.18
0.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.46SAR 5.48
85.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$2.05SAR 7.69
-6.83%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$2.24SAR 8.41
15.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$6.15SAR 23.09
59.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$7.37SAR 27.68
14.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$9.72SAR 36.51
22.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.14SAR 8.03
37.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.53SAR 5.75
13.73%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.39SAR 5.22
46.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.68SAR 6.29
22.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.23SAR 4.62
74.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.39SAR 5.22
62.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$1.29SAR 4.85
7.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.60SAR 2.24
86.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.18SAR 15.69
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.57SAR 5.91
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.00SAR 7.52
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$7.91SAR 29.70
-46.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$1.05SAR 3.95
-66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$39.61SAR 149
-51.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$3.43SAR 12.86
-59.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$1.84SAR 6.90
-84.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$13.22SAR 49.65
-60.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$0.59SAR 2.23
130.51%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$23.0KSAR 86.5K
-17.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
12.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$119SAR 445
-65.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$38.94SAR 146
-29.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$63.2SAR 237
-51.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$88.6SAR 333
-41.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$35.35SAR 133
-25.09%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$15.18SAR 57.0
-59.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$134SAR 503
217.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$3,926SAR 14.7K
173.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$69.0SAR 259
-15.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$67.6SAR 254
-34.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$90.4SAR 340
14.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$85.2SAR 320
27.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$448SAR 1,681
126.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$389SAR 1,459
60.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$841SAR 3,159
151.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$634SAR 2,382
92.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Khafji: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $448 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $53.0 in Khafji for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $185 per month, with Khafji 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 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 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $1,805 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: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $448 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 and in Khafji?
All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $1,203 in Khafji – a 22% 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 105% 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 living in Mexico City or in Khafji?
At $1,203 in Khafji versus $1,472 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 22% 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