🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,163 in Unaizah versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,764 in Unaizah versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,365 in Unaizah versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Unaizah costs roughly 21% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Unaizah is 13% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68SAR 25.10
$13.14MX$227
-49.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.60SAR 152
$53.5MX$926
-24.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.15SAR 26.86
$9.33MX$161
-23.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57SAR 5.89
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31SAR 4.90
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.18SAR 15.70
$3.70MX$64.0
12.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74SAR 2.77
$1.60MX$27.76
-53.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.06
$1.12MX$19.34
-75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.14MX$54.3
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.85MX$83.9
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54SAR 5.80
$1.65MX$28.61
-6.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29SAR 1.07
$2.71MX$46.96
-89.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30SAR 8.63
$1.91MX$33.03
20.42%
Eggs
$2.53SAR 9.50
$2.59MX$44.81
-2.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.09SAR 22.87
$9.81MX$170
-37.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.70SAR 17.66
$8.43MX$146
-44.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.79SAR 48.03
$11.93MX$206
7.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25SAR 8.43
$2.95MX$51.1
-23.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.86
$1.74MX$30.10
-10.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$2.04MX$35.38
-14.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.02
$2.06MX$35.64
-22.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$2.15MX$37.20
-40.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58SAR 9.69
$2.26MX$39.02
14.16%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.23SAR 4.62
$1.39MX$23.97
-11.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66SAR 2.47
$1.12MX$19.31
-41.07%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.60SAR 9.77
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72SAR 6.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03SAR 7.64
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.83SAR 25.66
$4.22MX$73.0
61.85%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$17.51MX$303
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.71MX$29.58
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.63MX$62.8
-
🚌 Getting Around
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.93
$0.35MX$6.10
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.78SAR 149
$19.32MX$334
105.90%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.71SAR 10.18
$1.38MX$23.80
96.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84SAR 6.92
$0.28MX$4.77
557.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.08SAR 49.10
$5.28MX$91.3
147.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$1.36MX$23.50
-55.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.5KSAR 99.6K
$19.1KMX$330.5K
38.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.3K
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-7.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 392
$40.53MX$701
157.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.13SAR 124
$27.38MX$474
21.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.5SAR 272
$30.38MX$526
138.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.3SAR 200
$52.2MX$903
2.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.48SAR 133
$26.48MX$458
33.99%
Cinema Ticket
$15.56SAR 58.4
$6.19MX$107
151.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$354SAR 1,329
$425MX$7,355
-16.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,930SAR 26.0K
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-35.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.9SAR 225
$58.3MX$1,009
2.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1SAR 229
$44.57MX$771
37.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$80.7SAR 303
$103MX$1,791
-22.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3SAR 309
$109MX$1,881
-24.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$448SAR 1,681
$1,014MX$17.5K
-55.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$380SAR 1,426
$623MX$10.8K
-39.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$840SAR 3,156
$2,119MX$36.7K
-60.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$622SAR 2,337
$1,223MX$21.2K
-49.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,481SAR 9,315
$3,792MX$65.6K
-34.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,517SAR 5,696
$2,110MX$36.5K
-28.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Unaizah
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,500SAR 9,389
$1,052MX$18.2K
137.63%
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 Unaizah: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $448 in Unaizah and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Unaizah pays 138% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Unaizah vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $175 vs $293 per month, with Unaizah 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
Unaizah vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Unaizah and in Mexico City?
Unaizah and Mexico City differ by about 27% in total monthly costs ($1,163 vs $1,472 including rent). Unaizah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Unaizah or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 138% higher in Unaizah, 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 Unaizah and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $448 in Unaizah versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Unaizah and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Unaizah runs roughly 106% 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 Unaizah and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $354 in Unaizah versus $425 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 $1,163 in Unaizah versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Unaizah but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Unaizah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Unaizah 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 Unaizah or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Unaizah 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: Unaizah or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Unaizah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.