🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $605 in Ouargla versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $962 in Ouargla versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,319 in Ouargla versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ouargla costs roughly 59% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ouargla is 55% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12DZD 412
$13.14MX$227
-76.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.79DZD 3,146
$53.5MX$926
-55.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.96DZD 523
$9.33MX$161
-57.56%
Cappuccino
$0.73DZD 96.7
$3.70MX$64.0
-80.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57DZD 75.3
$1.60MX$27.76
-64.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21DZD 27.73
$1.12MX$19.34
-81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99DZD 263
$3.14MX$54.3
-36.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39DZD 317
$4.85MX$83.9
-50.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.04DZD 138
$1.65MX$28.61
-36.97%
White Bread(500g)
$0.14DZD 18.10
$2.71MX$46.96
-94.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.59DZD 210
$1.91MX$33.03
-16.75%
Eggs
$1.80DZD 237
$2.59MX$44.81
-30.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.17DZD 1,212
$9.81MX$170
-6.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.41DZD 715
$8.43MX$146
-35.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.71DZD 2,209
$11.93MX$206
40.07%
Apples(1kg)
$3.09DZD 409
$2.95MX$51.1
4.75%
Banana(1kg)
$2.86DZD 378
$1.74MX$30.10
64.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72DZD 227
$2.04MX$35.38
-15.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79DZD 104
$2.06MX$35.64
-61.65%
Potato(1kg)
$0.56DZD 73.4
$2.15MX$37.20
-73.95%
Onion(1kg)
$0.46DZD 60.6
$2.26MX$39.02
-79.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.61DZD 80.7
$1.39MX$23.97
-56.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30DZD 40.13
$1.12MX$19.31
-73.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71DZD 359
$4.22MX$73.0
-35.78%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.08DZD 804
$17.51MX$303
-65.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.34DZD 178
$1.71MX$29.58
-21.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15DZD 284
$3.63MX$62.8
-40.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25DZD 33.32
$0.35MX$6.10
-28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$17.67DZD 2,336
$19.32MX$334
-8.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.66DZD 87.2
$1.38MX$23.80
-52.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36DZD 48.20
$0.28MX$4.77
28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.17DZD 684
$5.28MX$91.3
-2.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36DZD 48.02
$1.36MX$23.50
-73.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.9KDZD 4.3M
$19.1KMX$330.5K
72.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KDZD 4.4M
$23.6KMX$408.4K
41.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.44DZD 5,347
$40.53MX$701
-0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.28DZD 1,227
$27.38MX$474
-66.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.12DZD 2,264
$30.38MX$526
-43.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.22DZD 3,070
$52.2MX$903
-55.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.48MX$458
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.50DZD 728
$6.19MX$107
-11.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.6DZD 12.2K
$425MX$7,355
-78.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,603DZD 476.4K
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-66.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.59DZD 4,838
$58.3MX$1,009
-37.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.57DZD 6,025
$44.57MX$771
2.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6DZD 10,000
$103MX$1,791
-26.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.2DZD 10.2K
$109MX$1,881
-29.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196DZD 25.9K
$1,014MX$17.5K
-80.69%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$116DZD 15.4K
$623MX$10.8K
-81.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$277DZD 36.6K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-86.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$185DZD 24.5K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-84.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,259DZD 166.5K
$3,792MX$65.6K
-66.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122DZD 148.4K
$2,110MX$36.5K
-46.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ouargla
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Ouargla and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Ouargla vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $293 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 143% in total monthly costs ($605 vs $1,472 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 $907 in Ouargla and $2,208 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: $196 in Ouargla versus $1,014 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 9% 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 $92.6 in Ouargla versus $425 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 $605 in Ouargla versus $1,472 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 143% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.