🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $914 in Sanaa versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Sanaa versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,006 in Sanaa versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sanaa costs roughly 37% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 32% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.33YER 1,499
$13.07MX$229
-51.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96YER 5,433
$53.8MX$943
-57.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47YER 2,479
$9.68MX$170
8.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76YER 417
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82YER 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.69YER 873
$3.74MX$65.6
-1.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16YER 274
$1.62MX$28.34
-28.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47YER 111
$1.16MX$20.37
-59.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.23MX$56.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.74MX$83.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88YER 446
$1.65MX$28.89
13.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22YER 289
$2.75MX$48.30
-55.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.48YER 588
$1.87MX$32.87
32.62%
Eggs
$4.03YER 953
$2.50MX$43.86
61.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.87YER 2,337
$10.20MX$179
-3.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.69YER 1,582
$8.25MX$145
-18.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.58YER 4,397
$11.82MX$207
57.19%
Apples(1kg)
$3.85YER 912
$3.01MX$52.8
27.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39YER 329
$1.81MX$31.77
-23.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.39YER 566
$2.00MX$35.07
19.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64YER 389
$2.00MX$35.00
-18.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79YER 424
$2.08MX$36.56
-13.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62YER 384
$2.27MX$39.85
-28.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.63YER 149
$1.46MX$25.55
-56.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73YER 172
$1.08MX$18.88
-32.41%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.38YER 800
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67YER 395
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27YER 775
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05YER 958
$4.35MX$76.3
-6.90%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$16.99MX$298
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73MX$30.40
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.58MX$62.7
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42YER 101
$0.39MX$6.79
7.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.8YER 19.4K
$18.69MX$328
337.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.15YER 982
$1.33MX$23.25
212.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.03YER 953
$0.28MX$4.91
1339.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.02YER 1,661
$5.25MX$92.1
33.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.74YER 648
$1.34MX$23.44
104.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KYER 3.9M
$19.4KMX$340.5K
-14.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9KYER 8.0M
$23.8KMX$418.0K
42.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.5YER 16.9K
$40.69MX$714
75.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56YER 3,209
$26.87MX$471
-49.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.21YER 9,042
$30.51MX$535
25.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.4YER 16.0K
$52.8MX$926
27.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.43YER 3,889
$26.65MX$467
-38.35%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89YER 1,394
$6.51MX$114
-9.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112YER 26.6K
$428MX$7,508
-73.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,809YER 428.2K
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-82.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.44YER 9,336
$57.3MX$1,004
-31.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$147YER 34.8K
$45.50MX$798
222.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.85YER 9,668
$104MX$1,825
-60.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.77YER 9,885
$108MX$1,891
-61.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$166YER 39.4K
$1,003MX$17.6K
-83.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.4YER 22.6K
$623MX$10.9K
-84.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$403YER 95.4K
$2,109MX$37.0K
-80.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$261YER 61.7K
$1,218MX$21.4K
-78.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,070YER 963.3K
$3,885MX$68.1K
4.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$808YER 191.1K
$2,033MX$35.7K
-60.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$190YER 45.0K
$1,038MX$18.2K
-81.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
11.34
-0.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sanaa: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Sanaa and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 445% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $292 per month, with Sanaa 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
Sanaa vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sanaa and in Mexico City?
Sanaa and Mexico City differ by about 59% in total monthly costs ($914 vs $1,456 including rent). Sanaa is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 445% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Sanaa and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $166 in Sanaa 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 Sanaa and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sanaa runs roughly 338% 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 Sanaa and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $112 in Sanaa 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 $914 in Sanaa versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sanaa 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.
Where should expats move: Sanaa or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.