🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sanaa versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Sanaa versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Sanaa versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Sanaa costs roughly 39% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 33% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.11YER 1,455
$13.18MX$228
-53.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.83YER 5,440
$53.9MX$932
-57.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.15YER 2,418
$9.42MX$163
7.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.81YER 432
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80YER 430
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.72YER 888
$3.55MX$61.4
4.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14YER 273
$1.62MX$27.98
-29.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46YER 110
$1.11MX$19.27
-58.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.91YER 455
$1.70MX$29.43
12.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.20YER 287
$2.72MX$47.02
-55.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.47YER 589
$1.91MX$33.07
29.32%
Eggs
$4.03YER 959
$2.54MX$43.86
58.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.86YER 2,350
$10.03MX$174
-1.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.82YER 1,625
$8.09MX$140
-15.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.15YER 4,563
$11.62MX$201
64.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.92YER 933
$2.97MX$51.3
31.99%
Banana(1kg)
$1.44YER 344
$1.81MX$31.24
-20.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.41YER 574
$2.01MX$34.82
19.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64YER 391
$2.03MX$35.20
-19.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70YER 405
$2.12MX$36.75
-19.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57YER 374
$2.27MX$39.25
-30.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.64YER 151
$1.40MX$24.22
-54.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74YER 176
$1.13MX$19.55
-34.51%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.28YER 782
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65YER 394
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24YER 772
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91YER 932
$4.27MX$73.9
-8.43%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.56MX$269
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.39
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.60MX$62.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.42YER 101
$0.38MX$6.62
10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$82.1YER 19.6K
$19.18MX$332
327.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.21YER 1,004
$1.38MX$23.79
205.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.99YER 952
$0.28MX$4.78
1325.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.32YER 1,745
$5.45MX$94.2
34.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.68YER 640
$1.30MX$22.55
106.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KYER 3.9M
$18.7KMX$323.2K
-12.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5KYER 8.0M
$23.1KMX$400.1K
44.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.3YER 17.2K
$40.86MX$707
77.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70YER 3,266
$26.81MX$464
-48.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.45YER 9,163
$29.96MX$518
28.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$66.6YER 15.9K
$52.0MX$900
28.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68YER 3,975
$26.84MX$464
-37.85%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90YER 1,405
$6.30MX$109
-6.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$116YER 27.5K
$436MX$7,544
-73.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,808YER 430.7K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-82.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.29YER 9,363
$56.7MX$980
-30.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$148YER 35.2K
$44.38MX$768
233.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.65YER 9,924
$103MX$1,780
-59.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.36YER 10.1K
$106MX$1,825
-59.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$167YER 39.8K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-83.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$95.3YER 22.7K
$631MX$10.9K
-84.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$410YER 97.8K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-80.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265YER 63.2K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-78.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123YER 982.5K
$3,903MX$67.5K
5.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$819YER 195.1K
$2,064MX$35.7K
-60.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$191YER 45.5K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-82.86%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Sanaa and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 484% 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 $244 vs $288 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 Mexico City?
Sanaa and Mexico City differ by about 63% in total monthly costs ($900 vs $1,467 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, Mexico City earns 484% less. 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 Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $167 in Sanaa 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 Sanaa and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sanaa runs roughly 328% 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 $116 in Sanaa 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 $900 in Sanaa versus $1,467 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 63% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.