🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $580 in Nizwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $793 in Nizwa versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,007 in Nizwa versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Nizwa costs roughly 60% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Nizwa is 57% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.66OMR 1.02
$13.07MX$228
-79.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.58OMR 9.84
$53.8MX$936
-52.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.99OMR 1.54
$9.68MX$169
-58.78%
Cappuccino
-
$3.74MX$65.1
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82OMR 0.31
$1.62MX$28.13
-49.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$1.16MX$20.23
-76.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.23MX$56.2
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74MX$82.5
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34OMR 0.51
$1.65MX$28.68
-18.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33OMR 0.51
$2.75MX$47.95
-51.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.79OMR 0.69
$1.87MX$32.63
-4.28%
Eggs
$2.23OMR 0.86
$2.50MX$43.54
-10.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.89OMR 1.50
$10.20MX$178
-61.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.72OMR 2.97
$8.25MX$144
-6.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.82MX$206
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.04OMR 0.78
$3.01MX$52.4
-32.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$1.81MX$31.54
-29.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33OMR 0.51
$2.00MX$34.81
-33.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.32OMR 0.51
$2.00MX$34.74
-34.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07OMR 0.41
$2.08MX$36.30
-48.56%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03OMR 0.40
$2.27MX$39.56
-54.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$1.46MX$25.36
-63.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75OMR 0.29
$1.08MX$18.74
-30.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.35MX$75.7
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.99MX$296
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.18
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58MX$62.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Nizwa
Mexico City
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
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.28MX$4.87
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.25MX$91.5
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.34MX$23.27
-52.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$19.4KMX$338.0K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.8KMX$415.0K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$132OMR 50.8
$40.69MX$709
224.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$26.87MX$468
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.5OMR 25.21
$30.51MX$531
114.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$52.8MX$919
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.65MX$464
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.51MX$113
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$428MX$7,454
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$57.3MX$997
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$45.50MX$792
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$104MX$1,812
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$108MX$1,878
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$264OMR 102
$1,003MX$17.5K
-73.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$209OMR 80.5
$623MX$10.8K
-66.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$393OMR 151
$2,109MX$36.7K
-81.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261OMR 100
$1,218MX$21.2K
-78.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nizwa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,323OMR 509
$1,038MX$18.1K
27.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nizwa: July 11, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $264 in Nizwa and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Nizwa pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $26.00 in Nizwa vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $139 vs $292 per month, with Nizwa 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
Nizwa vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nizwa and in Mexico City?
Nizwa and Mexico City differ by about 151% in total monthly costs ($580 vs $1,456 including rent). Nizwa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Nizwa or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Nizwa, 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 Nizwa and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $264 in Nizwa versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Nizwa – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Nizwa or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $580 per month in Nizwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 151% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $580 in Nizwa versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nizwa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Nizwa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nizwa and Mexico City?
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 Nizwa or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nizwa and Mexico City 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: Nizwa or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Nizwa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 151% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.