🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $615 in Ouargla versus $1,448 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $982 in Ouargla versus $2,354 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,349 in Ouargla versus $3,260 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ouargla costs roughly 58% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ouargla is 54% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.26DZD 435
$12.96MX$225
-74.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.55DZD 3,138
$52.3MX$908
-55.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.79DZD 505
$9.69MX$168
-60.89%
Cappuccino
$0.78DZD 104
$3.75MX$65.1
-79.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61DZD 81.0
$1.56MX$27.14
-60.90%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.95
$1.16MX$20.10
-81.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97DZD 263
$3.24MX$56.3
-39.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36DZD 314
$4.90MX$85.0
-51.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02DZD 137
$1.70MX$29.54
-40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.16DZD 21.40
$2.67MX$46.30
-94.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62DZD 216
$1.89MX$32.77
-14.29%
Eggs
$1.86DZD 249
$2.52MX$43.74
-26.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24DZD 1,232
$10.02MX$174
-7.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.15DZD 686
$8.53MX$148
-39.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.68DZD 2,223
$11.94MX$207
39.70%
Apples(1kg)
$3.08DZD 411
$2.97MX$51.6
3.70%
Banana(1kg)
$2.97DZD 395
$1.79MX$31.14
65.92%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78DZD 238
$2.00MX$34.69
-11.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78DZD 104
$1.96MX$34.03
-60.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 74.0
$2.16MX$37.53
-74.07%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46DZD 61.9
$2.27MX$39.38
-79.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.60DZD 80.3
$1.40MX$24.34
-57.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.41
$1.11MX$19.34
-72.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67DZD 356
$4.20MX$72.9
-36.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.38DZD 984
$16.54MX$287
-55.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 179
$1.68MX$29.19
-20.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08DZD 278
$3.59MX$62.3
-42.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.34
$0.39MX$6.71
-35.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.21DZD 2,294
$19.19MX$333
-10.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.65DZD 86.2
$1.38MX$23.98
-52.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37DZD 48.76
$0.30MX$5.24
23.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.36DZD 714
$5.39MX$93.5
-0.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.44
$1.29MX$22.32
-72.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.2KDZD 4.3M
$18.9KMX$327.9K
70.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1KDZD 4.4M
$23.8KMX$413.0K
39.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.11DZD 5,345
$39.86MX$692
0.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44DZD 1,259
$27.83MX$483
-66.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.17DZD 2,289
$29.77MX$517
-42.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.46DZD 3,127
$52.0MX$902
-54.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.22MX$455
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.43DZD 724
$6.27MX$109
-13.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.9DZD 12.5K
$433MX$7,508
-78.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,552DZD 473.3K
$10.5KMX$182.9K
-66.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.35DZD 4,844
$57.0MX$989
-36.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.39DZD 6,049
$45.33MX$787
0.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.2DZD 10.1K
$102MX$1,768
-25.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9DZD 10.1K
$109MX$1,883
-30.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$193DZD 25.7K
$994MX$17.2K
-80.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$114DZD 15.2K
$617MX$10.7K
-81.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$274DZD 36.5K
$2,086MX$36.2K
-86.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$180DZD 24.0K
$1,256MX$21.8K
-85.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,228DZD 163.7K
$3,936MX$68.3K
-68.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,202DZD 160.1K
$2,089MX$36.2K
-42.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,131MX$19.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.42
11.34
-52.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ouargla: June 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Ouargla and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Ouargla vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $292 per month, with Ouargla 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
Ouargla vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ouargla and in Mexico City?
Ouargla and Mexico City differ by about 136% in total monthly costs ($615 vs $1,448 including rent). Ouargla is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ouargla compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $922 in Ouargla and $2,173 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ouargla and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $193 in Ouargla versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ouargla and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Ouargla runs roughly 12% 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 Ouargla and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $93.9 in Ouargla versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $615 in Ouargla versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ouargla but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ouargla the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ouargla 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 Ouargla or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ouargla 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: Ouargla or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Ouargla gentler on the wallet – expenses run 136% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.