🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,106 in Salalah versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,665 in Salalah versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,225 in Salalah versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Salalah costs roughly 24% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Salalah is 17% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.13OMR 1.98
$13.07MX$229
-60.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.64OMR 9.87
$53.8MX$940
-52.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.10OMR 5.04
$9.68MX$169
35.33%
Cappuccino
$6.19OMR 2.38
$3.74MX$65.4
65.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68OMR 0.26
$1.62MX$28.25
-58.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25OMR 0.10
$1.16MX$20.31
-78.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.92OMR 3.44
$3.23MX$56.4
176.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.37OMR 3.99
$4.74MX$82.9
118.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76OMR 0.68
$1.65MX$28.80
6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$2.75MX$48.15
-53.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.02OMR 0.78
$1.87MX$32.77
8.02%
Eggs
$1.90OMR 0.73
$2.50MX$43.72
-24.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73OMR 2.59
$10.20MX$178
-34.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.65OMR 1.79
$8.25MX$144
-43.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.84OMR 3.40
$11.82MX$207
-25.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.04OMR 0.79
$3.01MX$52.6
-32.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.09OMR 0.42
$1.81MX$31.67
-39.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.59OMR 0.61
$2.00MX$34.96
-20.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.14OMR 0.44
$2.00MX$34.89
-43.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.12OMR 0.43
$2.08MX$36.45
-46.15%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78OMR 0.30
$2.27MX$39.72
-65.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$1.46MX$25.47
-63.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54OMR 0.21
$1.08MX$18.82
-50.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88OMR 2.26
$4.35MX$76.0
35.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.01OMR 7.70
$16.99MX$297
17.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.84OMR 1.48
$1.73MX$30.31
121.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82OMR 1.85
$3.58MX$62.5
34.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28OMR 0.49
$0.39MX$6.77
228.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.3OMR 20.89
$18.69MX$327
190.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.35OMR 0.90
$1.33MX$23.18
76.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.33OMR 0.51
$0.28MX$4.89
375.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.83OMR 4.55
$5.25MX$91.8
125.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60OMR 0.23
$1.34MX$23.37
-55.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KOMR 8,114
$19.4KMX$339.4K
8.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.5KOMR 7,127
$23.8KMX$416.7K
-22.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.8OMR 24.55
$40.69MX$712
56.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$49.44OMR 19.03
$26.87MX$470
84.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$77.0OMR 29.62
$30.51MX$534
152.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.1OMR 35.81
$52.8MX$923
76.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.71OMR 9.90
$26.65MX$466
-3.53%
Cinema Ticket
$8.03OMR 3.09
$6.51MX$114
23.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$111OMR 42.87
$428MX$7,485
-73.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,399OMR 923
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-77.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.70OMR 10.66
$57.3MX$1,001
-51.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.71OMR 11.82
$45.50MX$796
-32.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.2OMR 23.95
$104MX$1,819
-40.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.75OMR 16.46
$108MX$1,885
-60.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259OMR 99.7
$1,003MX$17.5K
-74.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$208OMR 80.2
$623MX$10.9K
-66.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$500OMR 193
$2,109MX$36.9K
-76.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$367OMR 141
$1,218MX$21.3K
-69.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,034OMR 783
$3,885MX$67.9K
-47.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,218OMR 469
$2,033MX$35.5K
-40.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,785OMR 687
$1,038MX$18.1K
72.03%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Salalah and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salalah pays 72% 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 $227 vs $292 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 in Mexico City?
Salalah and Mexico City differ by about 32% in total monthly costs ($1,106 vs $1,456 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?
Average pay runs 72% higher in Salalah, 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Salalah versus $1,003 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 in 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 $428 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 $1,106 in Salalah versus $1,456 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 32% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.