🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,236 in Umluj versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Umluj versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,477 in Umluj versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Umluj costs roughly 15% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Umluj is 8% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.46SAR 24.25
$12.98MX$223
-50.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.78SAR 164
$52.6MX$903
-16.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.10SAR 30.41
$9.43MX$162
-14.10%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76SAR 6.60
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78SAR 6.68
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.73SAR 13.99
$3.57MX$61.3
4.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75SAR 2.80
$1.61MX$27.55
-53.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29SAR 1.09
$1.15MX$19.81
-74.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.15MX$54.0
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.86MX$83.4
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$1.70MX$29.17
0.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.78
$2.64MX$45.23
-61.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39SAR 8.97
$1.90MX$32.67
25.79%
Eggs
$2.41SAR 9.04
$2.54MX$43.62
-5.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.97SAR 26.16
$10.08MX$173
-30.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.64SAR 28.68
$8.29MX$142
-7.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.61
$11.57MX$199
11.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.22
$3.03MX$52.0
-27.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.71MX$29.35
-7.60%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.60
$2.05MX$35.16
-14.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.89
$2.06MX$35.36
-23.79%
Potato(1kg)
$1.24SAR 4.65
$2.06MX$35.43
-39.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$2.17MX$37.25
-41.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18SAR 4.44
$1.40MX$24.08
-15.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$1.12MX$19.26
-50.89%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.04SAR 11.42
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SAR 6.43
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SAR 7.49
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.97SAR 26.17
$4.29MX$73.7
62.47%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$15.41MX$265
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.67MX$28.74
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.69MX$63.3
-
🚌 Getting Around
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$0.38MX$6.55
173.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.18SAR 151
$19.06MX$327
110.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.67SAR 10.04
$1.38MX$23.70
93.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.81SAR 6.81
$0.28MX$4.74
546.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.38SAR 50.2
$5.42MX$92.9
146.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$1.28MX$21.98
-53.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.3KSAR 98.9K
$19.0KMX$325.8K
38.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.8KSAR 85.4K
$23.5KMX$402.7K
-3.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105SAR 394
$41.02MX$704
155.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.65SAR 126
$26.92MX$462
25.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.2SAR 275
$29.69MX$510
146.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$87.1SAR 327
$52.3MX$898
66.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.68SAR 134
$26.23MX$450
36.03%
Cinema Ticket
$15.42SAR 57.9
$6.18MX$106
149.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353SAR 1,324
$427MX$7,331
-17.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,979SAR 26.2K
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-34.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.3SAR 226
$56.8MX$975
6.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.4SAR 226
$44.83MX$769
34.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1SAR 297
$105MX$1,794
-24.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0SAR 308
$106MX$1,819
-22.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$436SAR 1,635
$995MX$17.1K
-56.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376SAR 1,412
$621MX$10.7K
-39.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$868SAR 3,258
$2,126MX$36.5K
-59.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$618SAR 2,319
$1,254MX$21.5K
-50.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,334SAR 8,758
$3,903MX$67.0K
-40.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,193SAR 4,476
$2,096MX$36.0K
-43.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Umluj
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,301SAR 16.1K
$1,107MX$19.0K
288.47%
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 Umluj: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $436 in Umluj and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Umluj pays 288% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Umluj vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $288 per month, with Umluj 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
Umluj vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Umluj and Mexico City?
Umluj and Mexico City differ by about 17% in total monthly costs ($1,236 vs $1,447 including rent). Umluj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Umluj or Mexico City?
Umluj pays 288% 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 Umluj and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $436 in Umluj versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Umluj and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Umluj runs roughly 111% 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 Umluj and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $353 in Umluj versus $427 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,236 in Umluj versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Umluj but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Umluj the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Umluj 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 Umluj or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Umluj 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: Umluj or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Umluj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 17% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.