😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $559 in Souk Ahras.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $858 in Souk Ahras.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,158 in Souk Ahras.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 163% more expensive than in Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Souk Ahras is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$229
$2.38DZD 314
452.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$934
$10.80DZD 1,430
395.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$163
$3.96DZD 525
135.61%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.5
$0.67DZD 88.5
452.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.98
$0.50DZD 65.7
220.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.23DZD 30.53
386.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.7
$1.98DZD 262
58.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$84.5
$2.34DZD 309
107.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.84
$0.88DZD 117
87.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.34
$0.23DZD 30.20
1078.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.29
$1.24DZD 164
54.03%
Eggs
$2.59MX$45.17
$1.97DZD 260
31.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$171
$3.34DZD 441
193.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$147
$2.79DZD 369
202.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$208
$16.98DZD 2,248
-29.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.5
$1.56DZD 207
89.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.35
$3.07DZD 406
-43.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.66
$1.22DZD 162
67.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.93
$1.18DZD 156
74.58%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.49
$0.43DZD 57.0
400.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.33
$0.41DZD 54.7
451.22%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.17
$0.25DZD 33.33
456.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.47
$0.29DZD 38.69
286.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.6
$2.21DZD 293
90.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$305
$5.88DZD 778
197.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.82
$1.35DZD 179
26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$63.4
$2.18DZD 289
66.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.15
$0.18DZD 23.26
94.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$337
$17.55DZD 2,323
10.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.00
$0.65DZD 86.6
112.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.81
$0.45DZD 59.2
-37.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$92.0
$5.24DZD 693
0.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.69
$0.31DZD 40.97
338.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$333.2K
$32.5KDZD 4.3M
-41.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$411.7K
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
-28.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$707
$41.11DZD 5,440
-1.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$478
$9.53DZD 1,261
187.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$530
$20.24DZD 2,679
50.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$911
$12.20DZD 1,614
328.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$462
$3.90DZD 516
578.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$108
$5.50DZD 727
12.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,414
$93.0DZD 12.3K
356.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$187.2K
$3,590DZD 475.2K
199.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$31.12DZD 4,118
87.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$777
$45.62DZD 6,037
-2.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,805
$78.8DZD 10.4K
31.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,897
$80.3DZD 10.6K
35.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.7K
$198DZD 26.2K
411.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$115DZD 15.3K
440.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$37.0K
$301DZD 39.8K
605.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.3K
$183DZD 24.2K
569.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$66.1K
$1,147DZD 151.8K
230.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.8K
$1,113DZD 147.3K
89.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.4K
$296DZD 39.2K
255.52%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Souk Ahras: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $198 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 256% 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 $11.00 in Souk Ahras for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $165 per month, with Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Souk Ahras?
Mexico City and Souk Ahras differ by about 163% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $559 including rent). Souk Ahras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Souk Ahras?
Average pay runs 256% 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 Souk Ahras?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $198 in Souk Ahras. 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 Souk Ahras?
A monthly transit pass in Souk Ahras runs roughly 10% 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 Souk Ahras?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $93.0 in Souk Ahras. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $559 in Souk Ahras versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Souk Ahras but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Souk Ahras the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Souk Ahras?
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 Souk Ahras safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Souk Ahras 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 Souk Ahras?
Expats usually find Souk Ahras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 163% 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