Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United Arab Emirates and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,561 a month against $2,227 in the United Arab Emirates, rent and utilities included – about $8,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
$2,227
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: The United Arab Emirates is 13.3% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 42.7% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United Arab Emirates is 10.2% more expensive than Mexico City without rent, and 35.7% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.40 AED 34.51
$11.12 MX$204
-15.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.5 AED 222
$48.99 MX$900
23.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 AED 35.60
$11.23 MX$206
-13.71%
Cappuccino
$5.34 AED 19.63
$3.76 MX$69.0
42.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 AED 3.86
$1.65 MX$30.34
-36.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 AED 1.70
$1.28 MX$23.48
-64.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$11.80 AED 43.33
$3.26 MX$59.8
261.96%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$12.35 AED 45.35
$5.66 MX$104
118.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 AED 6.33
$1.81 MX$33.23
-4.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 AED 5.38
$2.94 MX$54.0
-50.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.14 AED 7.85
$2.05 MX$37.62
4.39%
Eggs
$3.22 AED 11.82
$2.93 MX$53.7
9.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.60 AED 38.92
$11.95 MX$219
-11.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.82 AED 32.38
$9.51 MX$175
-7.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.55 AED 42.44
$14.84 MX$273
-22.17%
Apples (1kg)
$2.46 AED 9.04
$3.14 MX$57.7
-21.66%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 AED 6.51
$2.01 MX$36.99
-11.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.68 AED 6.18
$2.08 MX$38.10
-19.23%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 AED 4.99
$2.22 MX$40.72
-38.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.07 AED 3.92
$2.06 MX$37.82
-48.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 AED 3.88
$1.88 MX$34.46
-43.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.49 AED 5.46
$1.48 MX$27.18
0.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 AED 2.06
$1.35 MX$24.70
-58.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.09 AED 22.38
$5.41 MX$99.3
12.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.52 AED 49.66
$16.86 MX$310
-19.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.43 AED 8.94
$1.98 MX$36.43
22.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 AED 10.14
$4.32 MX$79.4
-36.11%
🚌 Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.62 AED 5.94
$0.34 MX$6.33
376.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$47.10 AED 173
$20.23 MX$371
132.82%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.25 AED 11.93
$2.10 MX$38.47
54.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 AED 2.22
$0.53 MX$9.74
13.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.32 AED 30.57
$5.41 MX$99.3
53.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 AED 3.48
$1.52 MX$27.91
-37.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.9K AED 165.0K
$21.7K MX$399.0K
106.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.4K AED 82.2K
$24.8K MX$455.6K
-9.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$198 AED 726
$63.0 MX$1,156
213.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$53.4 AED 196
$28.88 MX$530
84.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$91.3 AED 335
$33.93 MX$623
169.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 AED 271
$55.8 MX$1,024
32.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.45 AED 123
$24.90 MX$457
34.34%
Cinema Ticket
$13.77 AED 50.6
$6.77 MX$124
103.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$570 AED 2,094
$428 MX$7,854
33.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K AED 44.8K
$11.9K MX$218.0K
2.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.2 AED 225
$70.0 MX$1,286
-12.61%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 AED 213
$53.7 MX$986
7.98%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.5 AED 365
$110 MX$2,016
-9.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$100 AED 368
$115 MX$2,115
-13.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,553 AED 5,704
$1,062 MX$19.5K
46.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,092 AED 4,011
$671 MX$12.3K
62.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,731 AED 10.0K
$2,379 MX$43.7K
14.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 AED 7,427
$1,260 MX$23.1K
60.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,628 AED 20.7K
$3,716 MX$68.2K
51.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,849 AED 10.5K
$1,976 MX$36.3K
44.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United Arab Emirates
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,827 AED 10.4K
$997 MX$18.3K
183.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.63
11.3
-59.03%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for the United Arab Emirates: October 3, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
United Arab Emirates
$1.1K
Mexico City
$671 38.6% $421
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United Arab Emirates
$342
Mexico City
$126 63.3% $217
Groceries & Markets
United Arab Emirates
$263
Mexico City
$327 24.3% $64
Eating Out
United Arab Emirates
$258
Mexico City
$207 19.8% $51
Clothing & Footwear
United Arab Emirates
$143
Mexico City
$157 9.4% $13
Sport & Entertainment
United Arab Emirates
$101
Mexico City
$69 31.6% $32
Getting Around
United Arab Emirates
$60
Mexico City
$26 56% $33
Good to know
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
13:55 1:55 PM
03:55 3:55 AM
10 h behind the United Arab Emirates
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,890,400
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
UAE Dirham AED د.إ
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to AED – UAE Dirham Converter

UAE Dirham exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 3.67 AED (1 AED = 0.272 USD). 1 EUR = 4.12 AED (1 AED = 0.243 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.57 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United Arab Emirates Mexico City 14,350 km ≈ 18 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

United Arab Emirates vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?