😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $610 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $957 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,304 in Sidi Bel Abbes.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 143% more expensive than Sidi Bel Abbes, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Sidi Bel Abbes is 54% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$3.26DZD 431
298.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$21.28DZD 2,820
149.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.80DZD 503
155.79%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$0.38DZD 49.74
886.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.60DZD 80.2
161.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.27DZD 35.59
318.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.96DZD 260
62.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.44DZD 323
90.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$0.98DZD 130
65.31%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$0.09DZD 11.59
2911.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.57DZD 208
19.75%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.84DZD 244
36.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$8.83DZD 1,170
14.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$5.35DZD 709
54.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$16.26DZD 2,155
-26.57%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.16DZD 419
-9.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.80DZD 372
-37.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.71DZD 227
21.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.75DZD 99.8
162.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.56DZD 74.0
285.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$0.50DZD 66.0
336.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.60DZD 79.6
131.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.37DZD 49.45
202.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.68DZD 355
56.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$9.73DZD 1,289
46.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.34DZD 177
31.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$2.15DZD 285
71.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.19DZD 25.39
105.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$17.66DZD 2,340
5.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.72DZD 95.8
93.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.33DZD 44.16
-9.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$5.15DZD 682
5.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.36DZD 48.16
275.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$33.0KDZD 4.4M
-42.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$33.8KDZD 4.5M
-31.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$40.32DZD 5,342
1.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$9.19DZD 1,218
199.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$17.26DZD 2,287
76.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$18.10DZD 2,399
195.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$5.46DZD 724
14.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$94.8DZD 12.6K
359.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$3,530DZD 467.8K
196.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$36.78DZD 4,874
54.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$45.65DZD 6,048
-1.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$73.9DZD 9,788
39.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$76.1DZD 10.1K
41.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$191DZD 25.3K
422.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$116DZD 15.3K
437.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$274DZD 36.3K
679.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$184DZD 24.3K
572.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sidi Bel Abbes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$363DZD 48.0K
194.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
5.42
109.23%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sidi Bel Abbes: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $191 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 194% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $21.00 in Sidi Bel Abbes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $210 per month, with Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Sidi Bel Abbes?
Mexico City and Sidi Bel Abbes differ by about 143% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $610 including rent). Sidi Bel Abbes is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Sidi Bel Abbes?
Mexico City pays 194% more on average, 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $191 in Sidi Bel Abbes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Sidi Bel Abbes?
A monthly transit pass in Sidi Bel Abbes runs roughly 6% 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $94.8 in Sidi Bel Abbes. 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 $610 in Sidi Bel Abbes versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sidi Bel Abbes but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sidi Bel Abbes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sidi Bel Abbes?
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 Sidi Bel Abbes safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Sidi Bel Abbes 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 Sidi Bel Abbes?
Expats usually find Sidi Bel Abbes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 143% 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