😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,120 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,663 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,206 in Khamis Mushayt.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 48% more expensive than in Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Khamis Mushayt is 18% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$4.74SAR 17.80
151.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$32.27SAR 121
59.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$6.76SAR 25.41
68.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.61SAR 6.05
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.89SAR 7.09
-
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$2.87SAR 10.80
39.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$0.66SAR 2.47
151.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.23SAR 0.87
478.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.57SAR 5.88
19.75%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$0.42SAR 1.58
673.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$3.17SAR 11.89
-31.86%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$2.41SAR 9.04
20.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$6.29SAR 23.64
104.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$5.59SAR 20.98
79.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$14.25SAR 53.5
11.30%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$2.15SAR 8.09
53.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.74SAR 6.55
15.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.57SAR 5.90
40.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.68SAR 6.33
40.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$1.16SAR 4.35
76.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.33SAR 4.99
42.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$1.23SAR 4.61
30.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.58SAR 2.20
141.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.49SAR 9.34
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.54SAR 5.79
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.15SAR 8.09
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$6.52SAR 24.47
-16.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$1.03SAR 3.85
-66.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$31.41SAR 118
-33.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$2.88SAR 10.83
-27.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$1.57SAR 5.88
-64.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$13.70SAR 51.5
-57.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.65SAR 2.44
147.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$42.1KSAR 158.2K
-45.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$20.2KSAR 75.9K
32.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$101SAR 381
-35.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$32.89SAR 124
-8.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$63.7SAR 239
-41.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$85.8SAR 322
-30.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
$40.26SAR 151
-34.05%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$13.47SAR 50.6
-47.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$324SAR 1,218
43.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$6,702SAR 25.2K
98.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$54.6SAR 205
38.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$52.9SAR 199
5.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$97.9SAR 368
14.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$86.7SAR 326
38.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$518SAR 1,947
112.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$301SAR 1,131
139.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$798SAR 2,998
217.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$588SAR 2,208
120.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$2,478SAR 9,306
61.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,443SAR 5,420
44.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$1,573SAR 5,908
-34.05%
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 Khamis Mushayt: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $518 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Khamis Mushayt pays 52% 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 $32.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $186 per month, with Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Khamis Mushayt?
Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 48% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Khamis Mushayt?
On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Khamis Mushayt. 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 Khamis Mushayt?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $518 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Khamis Mushayt?
A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 51% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Khamis Mushayt?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $324 in Khamis Mushayt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Khamis Mushayt?
At $1,120 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Khamis Mushayt?
Both work as nomad bases, but Khamis Mushayt delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,120 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Khamis Mushayt hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Khamis Mushayt?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% 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