😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $1,188 in Khafji.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $1,830 in Khafji.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $2,471 in Khafji.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 22% more expensive than Khafji, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Khafji is 11% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$3.11SAR 11.68
316.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$52.9SAR 198
-0.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$4.92SAR 18.46
96.95%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.96SAR 3.60
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.57SAR 5.87
-
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$2.91SAR 10.91
28.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$0.90SAR 3.37
73.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$0.38SAR 1.41
205.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$1.70SAR 6.36
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$1.45SAR 5.46
84.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$2.08SAR 7.81
-9.13%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$2.22SAR 8.33
13.51%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$6.12SAR 22.96
63.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$7.24SAR 27.16
17.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$9.91SAR 37.20
20.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$2.21SAR 8.30
34.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$1.48SAR 5.56
20.95%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$1.44SAR 5.41
38.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$1.67SAR 6.28
17.37%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$1.24SAR 4.64
74.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$1.35SAR 5.06
68.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$1.36SAR 5.09
2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$0.55SAR 2.05
101.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.26SAR 16.00
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58SAR 5.92
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.94SAR 7.27
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$8.00SAR 30.03
-47.50%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$1.08SAR 4.07
-63.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$40.21SAR 151
-52.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$3.40SAR 12.76
-59.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$1.91SAR 7.18
-84.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$13.06SAR 49.02
-58.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$0.65SAR 2.43
98.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$22.4KSAR 84.1K
-15.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$21.0KSAR 78.6K
13.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$117SAR 439
-65.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$38.34SAR 144
-27.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$61.8SAR 232
-51.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$89.5SAR 336
-41.92%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$35.17SAR 132
-25.45%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$15.39SAR 57.7
-59.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$136SAR 509
218.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$3,931SAR 14.8K
168.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$68.4SAR 257
-16.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$67.2SAR 252
-32.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$91.2SAR 342
11.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$85.0SAR 319
27.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$444SAR 1,667
123.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$376SAR 1,410
64.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$836SAR 3,139
149.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$617SAR 2,317
103.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$2,454SAR 9,208
60.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$1,365SAR 5,124
52.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Khafji
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
-
-
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Khafji: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $444 in Khafji. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $53.0 in Khafji. Groceries flip the comparison at $292 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 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 $2,173 in Mexico City and $1,783 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: $994 in Mexico City versus $444 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 $1,448 per month in Mexico City versus $1,188 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 110% 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 $1,188 in Khafji versus $1,448 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