šMonthly costs for one person with rent: $698 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
šEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,122 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
šMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,545 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
šLiving in Sharm El Sheikh costs roughly 53% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
šThe two cities straddle the global median: Sharm El Sheikh is 48% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02EĀ£425
$12.98MX$227
-38.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.54EĀ£1,142
$53.1MX$929
-59.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.54EĀ£294
$9.72MX$170
-43.00%
Cappuccino
$1.80EĀ£95.4
$3.75MX$65.6
-52.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31EĀ£16.64
$1.57MX$27.46
-80.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45EĀ£23.64
$1.13MX$19.76
-60.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.00EĀ£159
$3.18MX$55.7
-5.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.00EĀ£265
$4.66MX$81.6
7.30%
š Groceries & Markets
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93EĀ£49.41
$1.62MX$28.37
-42.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62EĀ£32.63
$2.71MX$47.36
-77.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.65EĀ£34.48
$1.88MX$32.89
-65.43%
Eggs
$1.31EĀ£69.3
$2.51MX$43.90
-47.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.27EĀ£173
$10.08MX$176
-67.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.05EĀ£214
$8.29MX$145
-51.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.67EĀ£460
$11.94MX$209
-27.39%
Apples(1kg)
$1.54EĀ£81.7
$2.86MX$50.1
-46.15%
Banana(1kg)
$0.47EĀ£24.73
$1.75MX$30.62
-73.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.51EĀ£27.01
$2.08MX$36.48
-75.48%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.31EĀ£16.45
$1.97MX$34.46
-84.26%
Potato(1kg)
$0.41EĀ£21.53
$2.16MX$37.79
-81.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.40EĀ£21.31
$2.18MX$38.16
-81.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.24EĀ£12.78
$1.39MX$24.34
-82.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19EĀ£10.21
$1.12MX$19.69
-83.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.73EĀ£91.6
$4.20MX$73.5
-58.81%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.25MX$249
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30EĀ£68.9
$1.76MX$30.85
-26.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86EĀ£98.7
$3.68MX$64.5
-49.46%
š Getting Around
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.10EĀ£5.48
$0.39MX$6.74
-74.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$18.66MX$327
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41EĀ£21.81
$1.39MX$24.26
-70.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31EĀ£16.68
$0.30MX$5.32
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.93EĀ£103
$5.42MX$94.9
-64.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35EĀ£18.78
$1.35MX$23.63
-74.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KEĀ£1.9M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
86.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KEĀ£1.7M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
42.39%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$11.84EĀ£628
$40.82MX$714
-70.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.53EĀ£611
$27.50MX$481
-58.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.27EĀ£1,499
$30.38MX$532
-6.95%
š Sport & Entertainment
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.93EĀ£792
$53.4MX$935
-72.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.29EĀ£333
$26.30MX$460
-76.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.41EĀ£181
$6.27MX$110
-45.61%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$114EĀ£6,051
$436MX$7,632
-73.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,827EĀ£96.8K
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-82.55%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.10EĀ£1,437
$56.8MX$993
-52.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.38EĀ£2,565
$44.79MX$784
8.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107EĀ£5,681
$103MX$1,799
4.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$51.5EĀ£2,731
$108MX$1,888
-52.26%
š Accommodation & Living
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$364EĀ£19.3K
$1,000MX$17.5K
-63.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284EĀ£15.1K
$620MX$10.9K
-54.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$641EĀ£34.0K
$2,137MX$37.4K
-70.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$555EĀ£29.4K
$1,235MX$21.6K
-55.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,004EĀ£53.2K
$3,865MX$67.6K
-74.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$706EĀ£37.4K
$2,332MX$40.8K
-69.75%
šµ Salaries & Financials
Sharm El Sheikh
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$151EĀ£8,008
$1,067MX$18.7K
-85.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.67
11.34
47.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sharm El Sheikh: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $364 in Sharm El Sheikh and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
š°Mexico City pays 606% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
šDining out: $22.00 in Sharm El Sheikh vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $109 vs $286 per month, with Sharm El Sheikh 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
Sharm El Sheikh vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sharm El Sheikh and Mexico City?
Sharm El Sheikh and Mexico City differ by about 113% in total monthly costs ($698 vs $1,484 including rent). Sharm El Sheikh is meaningfully more affordable ā a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 606% 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 Sharm El Sheikh and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $364 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sharm El Sheikh and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $114 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $436 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Sharm El Sheikh ā a meal for two runs $22.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $698 in Sharm El Sheikh versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sharm El Sheikh but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sharm El Sheikh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sharm El Sheikh and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better ā the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Sharm El Sheikh or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sharm El Sheikh 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: Sharm El Sheikh or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sharm El Sheikh gentler on the wallet ā expenses run 113% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Sharm El Sheikh vs other spots: cost of living compared