🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,022 in Salalah versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Salalah versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,061 in Salalah versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Salalah costs roughly 38% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Salalah is 26% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.28OMR 2.03
$12.11MX$206
-56.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.36OMR 10.15
$52.2MX$887
-49.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.14OMR 5.06
$10.90MX$185
20.55%
Cappuccino
$6.29OMR 2.42
$4.05MX$68.9
55.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85OMR 0.33
$1.72MX$29.15
-50.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27OMR 0.10
$1.38MX$23.41
-80.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.90OMR 3.43
$3.47MX$58.9
156.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.43OMR 4.02
$5.81MX$98.8
79.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00OMR 0.77
$1.85MX$31.50
8.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.21OMR 0.47
$3.22MX$54.8
-62.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.67OMR 1.03
$2.09MX$35.44
27.75%
Eggs
-
$2.91MX$49.44
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.62OMR 1.78
$12.49MX$212
-63.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.63OMR 1.78
$10.11MX$172
-54.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$15.89MX$270
-
Apples(1kg)
$1.94OMR 0.75
$3.31MX$56.3
-41.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80OMR 0.69
$2.13MX$36.14
-15.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12OMR 0.82
$2.19MX$37.22
-3.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.87OMR 0.72
$2.45MX$41.59
-23.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.44OMR 0.55
$2.19MX$37.20
-34.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.02OMR 0.39
$1.90MX$32.37
-46.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.09OMR 0.42
$1.62MX$27.45
-32.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.49OMR 0.19
$1.35MX$22.94
-63.70%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.94OMR 2.29
$5.43MX$92.2
9.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.10OMR 7.74
$17.59MX$299
14.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.88OMR 1.50
$2.07MX$35.14
87.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82OMR 1.85
$4.75MX$80.7
1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.32OMR 0.51
$0.34MX$5.78
288.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$55.0OMR 21.17
$21.58MX$367
154.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23OMR 0.86
$2.04MX$34.67
9.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27OMR 0.49
$0.58MX$9.82
118.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$11.51OMR 4.43
$5.97MX$101
92.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63OMR 0.24
$1.62MX$27.46
-61.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KOMR 8,121
$22.8KMX$387.6K
-7.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.2KOMR 6,998
$26.7KMX$453.1K
-31.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$79.6OMR 30.63
$65.2MX$1,109
21.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.86OMR 18.81
$29.87MX$508
63.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.1OMR 28.14
$36.55MX$621
100.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.76OMR 15.31
$61.0MX$1,037
-34.82%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.79OMR 9.93
$26.70MX$454
-3.41%
Cinema Ticket
$7.76OMR 2.99
$6.85MX$116
13.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$453MX$7,705
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,912OMR 736
$13.4KMX$227.2K
-85.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.56OMR 11.00
$75.0MX$1,274
-61.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.61OMR 11.78
$55.3MX$940
-44.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$57.4OMR 22.10
$114MX$1,931
-49.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$45.61OMR 17.56
$123MX$2,084
-62.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$248OMR 95.6
$1,134MX$19.3K
-78.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$206OMR 79.4
$712MX$12.1K
-71.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$621OMR 239
$2,571MX$43.7K
-75.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393OMR 151
$1,311MX$22.3K
-70.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,001OMR 770
$3,993MX$67.8K
-49.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,246OMR 480
$2,095MX$35.6K
-40.55%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salalah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,813OMR 698
$1,047MX$17.8K
73.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.58
11.3
-59.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salalah: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $248 in Salalah and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Salalah pays 73% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $345 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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,022 vs $1,646 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 73% 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: $248 in Salalah versus $1,134 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 Salalah – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How do commuting costs compare in Salalah and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Salalah runs roughly 155% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,022 in Salalah versus $1,646 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 61% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.