🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,086 in Salalah versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,648 in Salalah versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,209 in Salalah versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Salalah costs roughly 26% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Salalah is 19% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.35OMR 2.06
$13.18MX$228
-59.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.28OMR 10.12
$53.9MX$932
-51.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.82OMR 4.93
$9.42MX$163
36.09%
Cappuccino
$6.01OMR 2.32
$3.55MX$61.4
69.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64OMR 0.25
$1.62MX$27.98
-60.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25OMR 0.10
$1.11MX$19.27
-77.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.21OMR 3.55
$3.12MX$54.0
195.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.59OMR 4.08
$4.63MX$80.1
128.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69OMR 0.65
$1.70MX$29.43
-0.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28OMR 0.49
$2.72MX$47.02
-52.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11OMR 0.81
$1.91MX$33.07
10.47%
Eggs
$1.95OMR 0.75
$2.54MX$43.86
-23.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.92OMR 2.66
$10.03MX$174
-31.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.57OMR 1.76
$8.09MX$140
-43.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.90OMR 3.43
$11.62MX$201
-23.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13OMR 0.82
$2.97MX$51.3
-28.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11OMR 0.43
$1.81MX$31.24
-38.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.61OMR 0.62
$2.01MX$34.82
-19.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.20OMR 0.46
$2.03MX$35.20
-40.89%
Potato(1kg)
$1.14OMR 0.44
$2.12MX$36.75
-46.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78OMR 0.30
$2.27MX$39.25
-65.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$1.40MX$24.22
-61.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58OMR 0.22
$1.13MX$19.55
-48.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.75OMR 2.21
$4.27MX$73.9
34.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.58OMR 7.54
$15.56MX$269
25.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88OMR 1.49
$1.76MX$30.39
120.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65OMR 1.79
$3.60MX$62.2
29.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.31OMR 0.51
$0.38MX$6.62
244.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.7OMR 21.44
$19.18MX$332
190.30%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25OMR 0.87
$1.38MX$23.79
63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$0.28MX$4.78
353.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.58OMR 4.46
$5.45MX$94.2
112.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$1.30MX$22.55
-53.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KOMR 8,064
$18.7KMX$323.2K
12.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.0KOMR 6,917
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-22.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.8OMR 25.32
$40.86MX$707
60.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.61OMR 19.10
$26.81MX$464
85.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.6OMR 29.48
$29.96MX$518
155.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.7OMR 36.09
$52.0MX$900
80.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.21OMR 10.09
$26.84MX$464
-2.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.93OMR 3.05
$6.30MX$109
25.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111OMR 42.88
$436MX$7,544
-74.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,377OMR 915
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-77.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.90OMR 10.74
$56.7MX$980
-50.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.60OMR 12.17
$44.38MX$768
-28.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.5OMR 24.82
$103MX$1,780
-37.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.98OMR 16.93
$106MX$1,825
-58.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255OMR 98.1
$1,022MX$17.7K
-75.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215OMR 82.8
$631MX$10.9K
-65.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$492OMR 189
$2,136MX$36.9K
-76.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370OMR 142
$1,243MX$21.5K
-70.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,991OMR 766
$3,903MX$67.5K
-48.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,225OMR 472
$2,064MX$35.7K
-40.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,753OMR 675
$1,115MX$19.3K
57.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.58
11.34
-59.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salalah: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Salalah and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salalah pays 57% 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 Salalah vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $288 per month, with Salalah 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
Salalah vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Salalah and Mexico City?
Salalah and Mexico City differ by about 35% in total monthly costs ($1,086 vs $1,467 including rent). Salalah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Salalah or Mexico City?
Salalah pays 57% 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 Salalah and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Salalah versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Salalah and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Salalah runs roughly 190% 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 Salalah and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $111 in Salalah versus $436 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 $1,086 in Salalah versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Salalah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Salalah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Salalah 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 Salalah or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Salalah 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: Salalah or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Salalah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.