😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $960 in Saham.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,432 in Saham.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $1,904 in Saham.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 71% more expensive than in Saham, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 20% above, Saham is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$205
$5.32OMR 2.05
127.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$883
$33.16OMR 12.77
57.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$184
$7.96OMR 3.07
36.93%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.5
$4.90OMR 1.89
-17.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.00
$0.85OMR 0.33
102.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.29
$0.29OMR 0.11
375.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.6
$12.87OMR 4.95
-73.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.2
$13.25OMR 5.10
-56.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.33
$2.26OMR 0.87
-18.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.5
$1.24OMR 0.48
159.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.25
$1.91OMR 0.73
9.42%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.18
$2.84OMR 1.09
2.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$211
$7.55OMR 2.91
65.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$6.71OMR 2.58
50.67%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$269
$10.72OMR 4.13
48.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.0
$3.53OMR 1.36
-6.23%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.95
$1.91OMR 0.73
11.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.03
$2.30OMR 0.89
-4.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.37
$1.24OMR 0.48
97.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.00
$1.19OMR 0.46
84.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.20
$1.29OMR 0.50
47.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.31
$1.84OMR 0.71
-11.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.82
$0.62OMR 0.24
117.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.7
$6.60OMR 2.54
-17.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$297
$15.65OMR 6.03
12.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$34.96
$5.56OMR 2.14
-62.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.2
$8.69OMR 3.34
-45.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.75
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$365
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.49
$3.21OMR 1.24
-36.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.77
$2.53OMR 0.97
-77.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$7.76OMR 2.99
-23.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.31
$0.59OMR 0.23
174.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.6K
$25.9KOMR 9,975
-11.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$450.7K
$22.3KOMR 8,593
19.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,103
$170OMR 65.4
-61.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$505
$31.30OMR 12.05
-4.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$618
$71.5OMR 27.53
-48.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,031
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$10.29OMR 3.96
-33.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,664
$286OMR 110
58.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$226.0K
$10.5KOMR 4,025
27.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,267
$57.3OMR 22.07
30.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$935
$43.21OMR 16.64
27.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,920
$91.6OMR 35.25
24.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,073
$94.1OMR 36.21
30.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.2K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.0K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.5K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Saham
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.25
115.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Saham: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $33.00 in Saham for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $284 per month, with Saham 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 Saham: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Saham?
Mexico City and Saham differ by about 71% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $960 including rent). Saham is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Saham?
You'd need roughly $2,469 in Mexico City and $1,440 in Saham 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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Saham?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $286 in Saham. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Saham – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $960 in Saham versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Saham but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Saham the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Saham?
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 Saham safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Saham 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 Saham?
Expats usually find Saham gentler on the wallet – expenses run 71% 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