😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $560 in Mostaganem.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $928 in Mostaganem.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,297 in Mostaganem.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 199% more expensive than in Mostaganem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Mostaganem is 59% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$3.42DZD 454
254.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$26.72DZD 3,543
101.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$4.40DZD 583
152.05%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$1.12DZD 148
266.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.66DZD 87.9
154.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.28DZD 36.64
396.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$2.33DZD 310
42.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$2.29DZD 304
156.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$0.75DZD 99.7
146.67%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$0.14DZD 18.56
2164.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$1.16DZD 154
78.45%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$1.35DZD 179
117.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$5.31DZD 704
137.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$4.17DZD 553
142.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$14.74DZD 1,954
9.16%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$2.09DZD 277
62.20%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$2.94DZD 390
-29.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$1.12DZD 149
89.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$0.67DZD 89.3
259.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$0.56DZD 73.8
280.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$0.41DZD 54.1
390.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$0.85DZD 113
82.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.28DZD 37.48
385.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$2.65DZD 352
117.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$7.08DZD 940
150.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$1.28DZD 170
61.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$2.04DZD 270
125.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.25DZD 33.20
48.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
$6.36DZD 843
233.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$0.55DZD 73.5
272.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.49DZD 65.0
18.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$2.36DZD 312
157.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$0.27DZD 35.37
474.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$37.3KDZD 4.9M
-38.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$35.9KDZD 4.8M
-24.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$46.21DZD 6,128
45.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$7.40DZD 981
313.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$12.58DZD 1,668
196.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$23.75DZD 3,149
158.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$4.54DZD 602
56.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$77.5DZD 10.3K
488.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$6,552DZD 869.0K
108.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$33.75DZD 4,475
119.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$35.96DZD 4,769
58.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$72.1DZD 9,561
60.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$83.9DZD 11.1K
44.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$160DZD 21.2K
616.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$107DZD 14.2K
563.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$281DZD 37.3K
817.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$209DZD 27.7K
519.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$1,298DZD 172.1K
208.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Mostaganem
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$241DZD 31.9K
349.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.3
113.21%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mostaganem: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $160 in Mostaganem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 350% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $27.00 in Mostaganem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $170 per month, with Mostaganem 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 Mostaganem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Mostaganem?
Mexico City and Mostaganem differ by about 199% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $560 including rent). Mostaganem is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Mostaganem?
Average pay runs 350% higher in Mexico City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Mostaganem?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $160 in Mostaganem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Mostaganem?
A monthly transit pass in Mostaganem runs roughly 233% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Mostaganem?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $77.5 in Mostaganem. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $560 in Mostaganem versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mostaganem but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mostaganem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Mostaganem?
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.
Is Mexico City or Mostaganem safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Mostaganem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Mostaganem?
Expats usually find Mostaganem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 199% 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