Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and M'Sila

For one person, living is cheaper in M’Sila: $461 a month against $1,674 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $14,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
M'Sila, Algeria
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,674
/mo nomad
M'Sila
🇩🇿 Algeria
$461
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in M'Sila

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in M'Sila actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,674 in Mexico City versus $461 in M’Sila.

  • Mexico City $1,674
  • M'Sila $461

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,606 in Mexico City versus $758 in M’Sila.

  • Mexico City $2,606
  • M'Sila $758

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,537 in Mexico City versus $1,055 in M’Sila.

  • Mexico City $3,537
  • M'Sila $1,055

Living in Mexico City is roughly 263% more expensive than in M’Sila, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 24% above, M’Sila is 66% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.59 MX$197
$1.85 DZD 251
472.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0 MX$964
$18.47 DZD 2,502
181.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.73 MX$199
$3.73 DZD 506
187.67%
Cappuccino
$3.80 MX$70.5
$0.37 DZD 49.88
927.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 MX$29.93
$0.50 DZD 68.3
222.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 MX$22.49
$0.17 DZD 23.70
611.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$59.0
$2.30 DZD 311
38.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.44 MX$101
$2.28 DZD 309
138.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$31.88
$0.86 DZD 117
100.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.97 MX$55.1
$0.12 DZD 16.08
2375.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.93 MX$35.74
$1.15 DZD 156
67.83%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.5
$1.23 DZD 167
125.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.67 MX$217
$2.94 DZD 398
296.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.48 MX$176
$3.90 DZD 529
143.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.37 MX$285
$8.91 DZD 1,207
72.50%
Apples (1kg)
$3.10 MX$57.6
$2.01 DZD 272
54.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.96 MX$36.39
$2.77 DZD 375
-29.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.98 MX$36.78
$1.11 DZD 150
78.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 MX$43.34
$0.56 DZD 76.2
317.86%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.56
$0.47 DZD 63.7
329.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.86
$0.28 DZD 37.73
550.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.54 MX$28.66
$0.13 DZD 16.99
1084.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31 MX$24.35
$0.25 DZD 33.57
424.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.35 MX$99.3
$2.75 DZD 372
94.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.19 MX$300
$6.61 DZD 895
144.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 MX$36.36
$1.26 DZD 171
55.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35 MX$80.8
$1.88 DZD 255
131.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 MX$5.66
$0.24 DZD 32.67
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.49 MX$362
$6.80 DZD 921
186.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.92 MX$35.58
$0.58 DZD 79.2
231.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 MX$8.77
$0.44 DZD 59.2
6.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$100
$5.47 DZD 741
-1.10%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MX$27.53
$0.33 DZD 44.78
348.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K MX$396.6K
$34.6K DZD 4.7M
-38.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$440.9K
$34.5K DZD 4.7M
-31.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.0 MX$1,151
$23.08 DZD 3,127
168.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.47 MX$528
$7.74 DZD 1,048
267.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.11 MX$633
$12.46 DZD 1,688
173.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.4 MX$1,084
$22.73 DZD 3,079
156.89%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.50 MX$455
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.59 MX$122
$4.50 DZD 610
46.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$434 MX$8,059
$115 DZD 15.5K
279.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.0K MX$260.5K
$6,386 DZD 865.0K
119.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.4 MX$1,269
$32.36 DZD 4,384
111.22%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.8 MX$1,017
$35.24 DZD 4,774
55.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$111 MX$2,057
$69.5 DZD 9,414
59.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116 MX$2,153
$79.8 DZD 10.8K
45.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,179 MX$21.9K
$147 DZD 19.9K
704.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$771 MX$14.3K
$91.7 DZD 12.4K
740.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,570 MX$47.7K
$275 DZD 37.3K
833.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,420 MX$26.3K
$197 DZD 26.6K
622.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,586 MX$66.5K
$984 DZD 133.2K
264.57%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$38.3K
$616 DZD 83.4K
235.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
M'Sila
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,003 MX$18.6K
$240 DZD 32.6K
317.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
5.3
114.15%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: November 1, 2026

Last update for M'Sila: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$771
M'Sila
$92 88.1% $679
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$324
M'Sila
$137 57.6% $186
Eating Out
Mexico City
$201
M'Sila
$49 75.5% $151
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$158
M'Sila
$98 38% $60
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$125
M'Sila
$43 65.3% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
M'Sila
$32 55.7% $40
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
M'Sila
$11 57.8% $14

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,179 in Mexico City and $147 in M’Sila. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays about 4.2 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $52 in Mexico City vs $18 in M’Sila for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $324 vs $137 per month, with M’Sila cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇩🇿 M'Sila
🕒 Local time
08:56 8:56 AM
15:56 3:56 PM
7 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
156,647
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

DZD, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18.56 MXN (100 MXN = 5.39 USD). 1 EUR = 20.85 MXN (100 MXN = 4.8 EUR).

Algerian Dinar exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 135 DZD (1,000 DZD = 7.38 USD). 1 EUR = 152 DZD (1,000 DZD = 6.57 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City M'Sila 9,920 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • M'Sila

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 M'Sila: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is M’Sila cheaper than Mexico City?
M’Sila is about 72% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or M’Sila?
Average pay in Mexico City is about 4.2 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and M’Sila?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,179 in Mexico City versus $147 in M’Sila. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in M’Sila runs roughly 65% less than in Mexico City. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $434 in Mexico City versus $115 in M’Sila. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in M’Sila?
At $461 in M’Sila versus $1,674 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in M’Sila but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes M’Sila the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Mexico City or in M’Sila?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find M’Sila gentler on the wallet – expenses run 72% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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