😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $966 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,565 in Khamis Mushayt.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,163 in Khamis Mushayt.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 51% more expensive than in Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Khamis Mushayt is 28% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$6.57SAR 24.68
98.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$41.89SAR 157
28.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$6.71SAR 25.19
44.26%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.75SAR 6.57
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.81SAR 6.81
-
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$5.23SAR 19.64
-28.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.76SAR 2.86
113.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.28SAR 1.06
314.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.71SAR 6.42
-3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.36SAR 1.35
663.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.84SAR 6.91
1.63%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$4.44SAR 16.66
-43.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$6.79SAR 25.48
50.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$7.66SAR 28.75
7.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$15.42SAR 57.9
-23.35%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.20SAR 8.25
36.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.49SAR 5.58
21.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.08SAR 4.06
85.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$2.02SAR 7.57
-0.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.71SAR 6.43
21.64%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.44SAR 5.39
57.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.19SAR 4.47
22.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.70SAR 2.61
54.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.41SAR 9.05
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71SAR 6.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.02SAR 7.57
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$8.10SAR 30.41
-46.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.04SAR 3.91
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$40.69SAR 153
-54.07%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$2.67SAR 10.03
-50.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$2.02SAR 7.58
-86.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$13.12SAR 49.26
-59.98%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.63SAR 2.38
112.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$26.7KSAR 100.3K
-27.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$22.6KSAR 84.9K
5.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$106SAR 398
-61.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$33.53SAR 126
-19.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$71.3SAR 268
-57.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$87.9SAR 330
-39.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$35.17SAR 132
-24.23%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$15.36SAR 57.7
-57.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$348SAR 1,308
22.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$6,953SAR 26.1K
51.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$60.0SAR 225
-4.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$61.1SAR 230
-25.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$79.7SAR 299
30.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$83.3SAR 313
29.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$157SAR 591
537.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$105SAR 396
490.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$402SAR 1,509
424.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$281SAR 1,053
334.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$2,607SAR 9,789
49.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,448SAR 5,438
40.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Khamis Mushayt
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$1,603SAR 6,019
-35.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.42
156.56%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Khamis Mushayt: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $157 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Khamis Mushayt pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $42.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $206 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 51% 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 54% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $157 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 118% 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 $428 in Mexico City versus $348 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 $966 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,456 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 $966 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 51% 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