🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,348 in Tabuk versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,016 in Tabuk versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,685 in Tabuk versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Tabuk costs roughly 8% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Tabuk1% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.75SAR 32.84
$13.18MX$228
-33.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.64SAR 104
$53.9MX$932
-48.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.18SAR 26.95
$9.42MX$163
-23.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.58SAR 5.94
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91SAR 7.17
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.10SAR 11.64
$3.55MX$61.4
-12.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.83
$1.62MX$27.98
-53.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$1.11MX$19.27
-74.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.12MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.63MX$80.1
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.83SAR 6.87
$1.70MX$29.43
7.65%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52SAR 1.94
$2.72MX$47.02
-80.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.73SAR 10.23
$1.91MX$33.07
42.93%
Eggs
$2.69SAR 10.11
$2.54MX$43.86
5.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.19SAR 45.75
$10.03MX$174
21.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.68SAR 25.06
$8.09MX$140
-17.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.61
$11.62MX$201
11.45%
Apples(1kg)
$1.98SAR 7.45
$2.97MX$51.3
-33.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53SAR 5.74
$1.81MX$31.24
-15.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79SAR 6.72
$2.01MX$34.82
-10.95%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.16SAR 8.12
$2.03MX$35.20
6.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$2.12MX$36.75
-19.34%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01SAR 7.54
$2.27MX$39.25
-11.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.00SAR 7.50
$1.40MX$24.22
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57SAR 2.13
$1.13MX$19.55
-49.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.87SAR 10.79
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77SAR 6.63
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.81
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.50SAR 28.14
$4.27MX$73.9
75.64%
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
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06SAR 3.97
$0.38MX$6.62
178.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.99SAR 150
$19.18MX$332
108.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.69SAR 10.10
$1.38MX$23.79
94.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91SAR 7.17
$0.28MX$4.78
582.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.20SAR 49.53
$5.45MX$94.2
142.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.30
$1.30MX$22.55
-53.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.4KSAR 99.2K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
41.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.0K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
-2.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$160SAR 602
$40.86MX$707
292.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.95SAR 139
$26.81MX$464
37.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$106SAR 399
$29.96MX$518
254.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.2SAR 331
$52.0MX$900
69.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.71SAR 134
$26.84MX$464
33.05%
Cinema Ticket
$25.73SAR 96.6
$6.30MX$109
308.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$355SAR 1,334
$436MX$7,544
-18.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,448SAR 31.7K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-18.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5SAR 223
$56.7MX$980
4.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.0SAR 229
$44.38MX$768
37.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.7SAR 299
$103MX$1,780
-22.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.7SAR 310
$106MX$1,825
-21.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$344SAR 1,291
$1,022MX$17.7K
-66.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366SAR 1,374
$631MX$10.9K
-41.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$822SAR 3,085
$2,136MX$36.9K
-61.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$731SAR 2,743
$1,243MX$21.5K
-41.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,677SAR 10.0K
$3,903MX$67.5K
-31.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,526SAR 5,728
$2,064MX$35.7K
-26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tabuk
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,707SAR 6,406
$1,115MX$19.3K
53.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.42
11.34
-61.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tabuk: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $344 in Tabuk and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tabuk pays 53% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $28.00 in Tabuk vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $288 per month, with Tabuk 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
Tabuk vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tabuk and Mexico City?
Tabuk and Mexico City differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,348 vs $1,467 including rent). Tabuk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tabuk or Mexico City?
Tabuk pays 53% more on average, 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 Tabuk and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $344 in Tabuk 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 Tabuk and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Tabuk runs roughly 108% 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 Tabuk and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $355 in Tabuk 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 $1,500 per month?
At $1,348 in Tabuk versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tabuk but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Tabuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Tabuk 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 Tabuk or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Tabuk 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: Tabuk or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Tabuk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.