😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $940 in Wadi Musa.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,197 in Wadi Musa.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,453 in Wadi Musa.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 55% more expensive than in Wadi Musa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Wadi Musa is 30% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$5.38JOD 3.81
142.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$35.33JOD 25.01
52.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$4.92JOD 3.48
96.75%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$2.76JOD 1.95
35.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.47JOD 0.33
244.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.37JOD 0.26
213.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$5.68JOD 4.02
-43.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$6.90JOD 4.88
-31.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.47JOD 1.04
12.24%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.51JOD 0.36
439.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.61JOD 1.14
16.15%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.44JOD 1.72
2.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$6.73JOD 4.76
51.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$4.68JOD 3.31
76.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$11.40JOD 8.07
3.68%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$1.80JOD 1.27
67.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.39JOD 0.98
30.22%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$1.47JOD 1.04
36.05%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.72JOD 0.51
177.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.92JOD 0.65
126.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.72JOD 0.51
215.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.61JOD 0.43
139.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.51JOD 0.36
111.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.37JOD 2.39
29.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$21.47JOD 15.20
-20.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$4.65JOD 3.29
-62.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$5.49JOD 3.89
-34.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$0.68JOD 0.48
95.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.44JOD 1.02
-80.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$7.06JOD 5.00
-25.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.15JOD 0.81
16.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$26.6KJOD 18.9K
-27.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$32.9KJOD 23.3K
-27.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$71.8JOD 50.9
-43.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$4.26JOD 3.02
530.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$14.21JOD 10.06
114.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$34.60JOD 24.50
52.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$11.40JOD 8.07
-42.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$274JOD 194
56.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$5,365JOD 3,798
95.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$62.7JOD 44.37
-8.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$55.9JOD 39.56
-18.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$113JOD 80.1
-8.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$79.4JOD 56.2
35.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$353JOD 250
183.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$283JOD 201
119.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Wadi Musa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$489JOD 346
112.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
7.27
55.98%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Wadi Musa: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $353 in Wadi Musa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 112% 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 $35.00 in Wadi Musa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $231 per month, with Wadi Musa 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 Wadi Musa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Wadi Musa?
Mexico City and Wadi Musa differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $940 including rent). Wadi Musa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Wadi Musa?
Average pay runs 112% 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 Wadi Musa?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $353 in Wadi Musa. 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 Wadi Musa?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $274 in Wadi Musa. 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 Wadi Musa – a meal for two runs $35.00 versus $54.0 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 $940 in Wadi Musa versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Wadi Musa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Wadi Musa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Wadi Musa?
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 Wadi Musa safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Wadi Musa 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 Wadi Musa?
Expats usually find Wadi Musa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% 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