đMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $606 in Ouargla.
đEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $982 in Ouargla.
đMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,359 in Ouargla.
đLiving in Mexico City is roughly 145% more expensive than Ouargla, driven mainly by Eating Out.
đThe two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Ouargla is 55% below.
Currency
đ˝ Eating Out
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.21DZDÂ 426
304.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$24.04DZDÂ 3,185
120.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.80DZDÂ 504
155.79%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$0.76DZDÂ 101
393.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.62DZDÂ 81.6
153.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.21DZDÂ 27.73
438.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.01DZDÂ 266
58.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.32DZDÂ 308
100.86%
đ Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.03DZDÂ 136
57.28%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.17DZDÂ 22.72
1494.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.61DZDÂ 214
16.77%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.81DZDÂ 240
38.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.79DZDÂ 1,165
14.68%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.36DZDÂ 711
54.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$16.57DZDÂ 2,195
-27.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.17DZDÂ 420
-9.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.94DZDÂ 389
-40.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.76DZDÂ 233
18.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.78DZDÂ 104
152.56%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.55DZDÂ 73.2
292.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.47DZDÂ 61.6
363.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.65DZDÂ 86.4
113.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.28DZDÂ 36.69
300.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.70DZDÂ 358
55.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$7.48DZDÂ 991
90.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.30DZDÂ 172
35.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.08DZDÂ 275
76.92%
đ Getting Around
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.23DZDÂ 30.24
69.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$17.24DZDÂ 2,284
8.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.66DZDÂ 87.8
110.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.33DZDÂ 44.29
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.41DZDÂ 717
0.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.37DZDÂ 48.45
264.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$31.8KDZDÂ 4.2M
-40.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$33.7KDZDÂ 4.5M
-31.30%
đ§ž Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$41.03DZDÂ 5,436
-0.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$9.60DZDÂ 1,272
186.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$16.71DZDÂ 2,214
81.81%
đ Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$23.19DZDÂ 3,072
130.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.54DZDÂ 734
13.18%
𧸠Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$93.0DZDÂ 12.3K
368.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,620DZDÂ 479.7K
189.15%
đđ Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$37.03DZDÂ 4,906
53.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$46.01DZDÂ 6,097
-2.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$74.7DZDÂ 9,898
37.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$75.6DZDÂ 10.0K
42.74%
đ Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$197DZDÂ 26.1K
407.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$118DZDÂ 15.6K
427.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$271DZDÂ 35.9K
688.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$180DZDÂ 23.9K
585.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
đľ Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Ouargla
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input â minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Ouargla: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
đ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $197 in Ouargla. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
đDining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $24.00 in Ouargla for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $207 per month, with Ouargla 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 Ouargla: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Ouargla?
Mexico City and Ouargla differ by about 145% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $606 including rent). Ouargla is meaningfully more affordable â a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Ouargla?
You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $908 in Ouargla 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Ouargla?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $197 in Ouargla. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Ouargla?
A monthly transit pass in Ouargla runs roughly 8% 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 Ouargla?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $93.0 in Ouargla. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $606 in Ouargla versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ouargla but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ouargla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Ouargla?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better â the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Ouargla safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Ouargla 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 Ouargla?
Expats usually find Ouargla gentler on the wallet â expenses run 145% 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