Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Souk Ahras Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Souk Ahras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $524 in Souk Ahras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $819 in Souk Ahras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $1,114 in Souk Ahras.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 220% more expensive than in Souk Ahras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Souk Ahras is 62% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$2.37 DZD 314
412.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$10.90 DZD 1,445
394.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$4.14 DZD 549
167.87%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$0.66 DZD 88.1
521.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$0.54 DZD 71.4
211.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$0.28 DZD 36.57
396.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$1.45 DZD 192
129.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$2.22 DZD 294
164.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$0.82 DZD 109
125.61%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$0.21 DZD 27.79
1409.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$1.26 DZD 167
64.29%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$1.36 DZD 180
115.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$3.46 DZD 459
263.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$2.84 DZD 377
255.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$16.73 DZD 2,219
-3.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$1.49 DZD 198
127.52%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$3.02 DZD 400
-31.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$1.16 DZD 154
82.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$0.94 DZD 124
156.38%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$0.44 DZD 57.9
384.09%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$0.42 DZD 55.5
378.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$0.25 DZD 33.22
520.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$0.29 DZD 38.91
368.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$2.27 DZD 300
154.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$7.05 DZD 934
151.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$1.32 DZD 176
56.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$1.95 DZD 258
136.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$0.19 DZD 24.93
94.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$6.31 DZD 837
235.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$0.59 DZD 78.8
247.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$0.50 DZD 67.0
16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$5.20 DZD 690
16.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$0.33 DZD 44.06
369.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$37.0K DZD 4.9M
-38.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$35.7K DZD 4.7M
-23.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$38.43 DZD 5,097
75.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$9.36 DZD 1,241
227.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$19.96 DZD 2,647
86.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$12.07 DZD 1,600
409.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$4.11 DZD 545
559.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$4.56 DZD 604
55.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$94.0 DZD 12.5K
385.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$3,402 DZD 451.2K
302.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$30.71 DZD 4,073
141.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$35.62 DZD 4,724
60.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$81.5 DZD 10.8K
41.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$79.6 DZD 10.6K
52.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$157 DZD 20.8K
632.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$106 DZD 14.1K
567.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$297 DZD 39.4K
766.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$180 DZD 23.9K
618.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$1,294 DZD 171.6K
209.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$275 DZD 36.4K
675.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Souk Ahras
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$302 DZD 40.0K
258.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.3
113.21%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Souk Ahras: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $157 in Souk Ahras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 259% 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 $345 vs $162 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 220% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $524 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 259% 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $157 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 236% 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 $456 in Mexico City versus $94.0 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 $524 in Souk Ahras versus $1,677 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 220% 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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