🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,024 in Sanaa versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Sanaa versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,171 in Sanaa versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sanaa costs roughly 38% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 26% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.18YER 1,462
$12.11MX$205
-48.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.63YER 6,068
$52.2MX$883
-50.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.77YER 2,312
$10.90MX$184
-10.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03YER 480
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46YER 582
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.79YER 897
$4.05MX$68.5
-6.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18YER 280
$1.72MX$29.00
-31.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65YER 153
$1.38MX$23.29
-52.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.47MX$58.6
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.81MX$98.2
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99YER 472
$1.85MX$31.33
7.57%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70YER 403
$3.22MX$54.5
-47.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05YER 486
$2.09MX$35.25
-1.91%
Eggs
$3.53YER 836
$2.91MX$49.18
21.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$17.06YER 4,038
$12.49MX$211
36.59%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.45YER 2,001
$10.11MX$171
-16.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$18.55YER 4,391
$15.89MX$269
16.74%
Apples(1kg)
$3.42YER 809
$3.31MX$56.0
3.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.02YER 241
$2.13MX$35.95
-52.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21YER 523
$2.19MX$37.03
0.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56YER 369
$2.45MX$41.37
-36.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47YER 347
$2.19MX$37.00
-32.88%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32YER 312
$1.90MX$32.20
-30.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20YER 283
$1.62MX$27.31
-25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63YER 150
$1.35MX$22.82
-53.33%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.32YER 786
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78YER 422
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43YER 812
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.53YER 1,309
$5.43MX$91.7
1.84%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.59MX$297
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$2.07MX$34.96
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.75MX$80.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44YER 103
$0.34MX$5.75
29.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$83.5YER 19.8K
$21.58MX$365
286.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.26YER 1,009
$2.04MX$34.49
108.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.13YER 505
$0.58MX$9.77
267.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.47YER 1,769
$5.97MX$101
25.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02YER 479
$1.62MX$27.31
24.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.1KYER 4.0M
$22.8KMX$385.6K
-25.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.4KYER 8.4M
$26.7KMX$450.7K
32.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$109YER 25.9K
$65.2MX$1,103
67.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.95YER 5,669
$29.87MX$505
-19.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101YER 23.8K
$36.55MX$618
175.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.9YER 15.6K
$61.0MX$1,031
8.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.92YER 3,768
$26.70MX$451
-40.37%
Cinema Ticket
$5.85YER 1,384
$6.85MX$116
-14.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114YER 27.0K
$453MX$7,664
-74.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,204YER 521.7K
$13.4KMX$226.0K
-83.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.00YER 9,943
$75.0MX$1,267
-43.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$122YER 28.9K
$55.3MX$935
120.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.26YER 11.2K
$114MX$1,920
-58.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.14YER 9,501
$123MX$2,073
-67.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218YER 51.5K
$1,134MX$19.2K
-80.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.3YER 22.8K
$712MX$12.0K
-86.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$408YER 96.5K
$2,571MX$43.5K
-84.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269YER 63.7K
$1,311MX$22.2K
-79.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,221YER 999.2K
$3,993MX$67.5K
5.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$797YER 188.7K
$2,095MX$35.4K
-61.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$191YER 45.2K
$1,047MX$17.7K
-81.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.25
11.3
-0.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sanaa: August 29, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Sanaa and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 448% 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: $26.00 in Sanaa vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $345 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 61% in total monthly costs ($1,024 vs $1,646 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 448% 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: $218 in Sanaa versus $1,134 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 287% 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 $114 in Sanaa versus $453 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 $1,024 in Sanaa versus $1,646 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 61% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.