😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $723 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $1,386 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $2,049 in Umm As-summaq.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 100% more expensive than Umm As-summaq, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 8% above, Umm As-summaq is 46% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$6.30JOD 4.46
106.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$49.89JOD 35.31
5.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$5.07JOD 3.59
86.00%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$4.22JOD 2.99
-15.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.48JOD 0.34
235.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.34JOD 0.24
238.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$5.58JOD 3.95
-43.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$7.15JOD 5.06
-32.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.24JOD 0.88
37.10%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$0.36JOD 0.26
633.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$1.44JOD 1.02
31.94%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$2.55JOD 1.81
-0.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$2.88JOD 2.04
250.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$6.65JOD 4.70
24.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$11.46JOD 8.11
0.96%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$1.39JOD 0.99
117.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$0.74JOD 0.52
131.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.44JOD 1.02
42.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$0.29JOD 0.21
610.34%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$0.34JOD 0.24
505.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$0.29JOD 0.21
648.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.66JOD 0.46
112.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.63JOD 0.44
77.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$3.58JOD 2.53
19.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$16.81JOD 11.90
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$4.63JOD 3.28
-63.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$5.31JOD 3.76
-30.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.74JOD 0.52
-48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.70JOD 0.49
97.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.29JOD 0.21
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$6.93JOD 4.90
-21.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$1.39JOD 0.98
-7.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$26.6KJOD 18.9K
-28.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$32.2KJOD 22.8K
-27.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$107JOD 75.4
-61.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$17.31JOD 12.25
55.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$32.01JOD 22.66
-7.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$40.41JOD 28.60
29.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$35.87JOD 25.39
-26.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$11.45JOD 8.11
-46.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$274JOD 194
56.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$5,354JOD 3,789
99.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$60.6JOD 42.87
-6.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$56.7JOD 40.10
-20.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$114JOD 80.7
-8.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$81.5JOD 57.7
29.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$388JOD 275
156.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$471JOD 334
351.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$362JOD 256
246.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,699JOD 1,202
129.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Umm As-summaq
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$845JOD 598
31.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
6.67
70.01%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Umm As-summaq: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $388 in Umm As-summaq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 31% 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 $50.0 in Umm As-summaq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $206 per month, with Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Umm As-summaq?
Mexico City and Umm As-summaq differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $723 including rent). Umm As-summaq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Umm As-summaq?
Mexico City pays 31% 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 Umm As-summaq?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $388 in Umm As-summaq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Umm As-summaq?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $274 in Umm As-summaq. 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 Umm As-summaq – a meal for two runs $50.0 versus $53.0 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 $723 in Umm As-summaq versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Umm As-summaq but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Umm As-summaq the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Umm As-summaq?
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 Umm As-summaq safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Umm As-summaq 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 Umm As-summaq?
Expats usually find Umm As-summaq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% 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