Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Salalah Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Salalah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $1,021 in Salalah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,552 in Salalah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $2,082 in Salalah.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 64% more expensive than in Salalah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Salalah is 26% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$5.35 OMR 2.06
126.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$25.78 OMR 9.92
109.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$12.89 OMR 4.96
-13.96%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$6.11 OMR 2.35
-32.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$0.89 OMR 0.34
88.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$0.27 OMR 0.10
414.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$8.85 OMR 3.41
-62.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$10.60 OMR 4.08
-44.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$1.89 OMR 0.73
-2.12%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$1.24 OMR 0.48
155.65%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$2.66 OMR 1.02
-22.18%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$4.55 OMR 1.75
176.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$4.73 OMR 1.82
113.74%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$1.91 OMR 0.74
77.49%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$1.80 OMR 0.69
15.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$2.10 OMR 0.81
0.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$1.78 OMR 0.69
35.39%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$1.49 OMR 0.57
42.95%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$1.01 OMR 0.39
99.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$1.10 OMR 0.42
40.91%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$0.51 OMR 0.20
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$6.01 OMR 2.31
-3.99%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$19.50 OMR 7.51
-9.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$3.84 OMR 1.48
-46.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$4.63 OMR 1.78
-0.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$1.32 OMR 0.51
-71.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$55.5 OMR 21.34
-61.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$2.29 OMR 0.88
-10.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$1.27 OMR 0.49
-54.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$11.66 OMR 4.49
-47.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$0.61 OMR 0.23
154.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$20.5K OMR 7,877
11.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$18.4K OMR 7,094
47.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$77.5 OMR 29.83
-13.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$48.48 OMR 18.66
-36.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$73.3 OMR 28.20
-49.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$40.49 OMR 15.59
51.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$26.45 OMR 10.18
2.53%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$7.64 OMR 2.94
-6.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$1,963 OMR 756
597.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$28.13 OMR 10.83
163.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$31.00 OMR 11.93
83.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$58.4 OMR 22.47
97.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$44.91 OMR 17.28
170.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$243 OMR 93.7
371.41%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$209 OMR 80.4
239.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$645 OMR 248
299.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$389 OMR 150
233.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$2,043 OMR 787
96.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$1,218 OMR 469
74.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Salalah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$1,775 OMR 683
-39.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
4.58
146.72%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Salalah: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $243 in Salalah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Salalah pays 64% 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 $26.00 in Salalah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $201 per month, with Salalah 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 Salalah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Salalah?
Mexico City and Salalah differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $1,021 including rent). Salalah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 64% lower in Salalah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Salalah?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $243 in Salalah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Salalah – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Salalah?
A monthly transit pass in Salalah runs roughly 162% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,021 in Salalah versus $1,677 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Salalah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Salalah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Salalah?
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 Salalah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Salalah 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 Salalah?
Expats usually find Salalah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% 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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