😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,609 in Bålsta versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,497 in Bålsta versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,386 in Bålsta versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Bålsta is roughly 10% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta20% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.92SEK 125
$13.07MX$229
-1.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5SEK 652
$53.8MX$943
25.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.24SEK 89.4
$9.68MX$170
-4.55%
Cappuccino
$4.15SEK 40.11
$3.74MX$65.6
10.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SEK 26.92
$1.62MX$28.34
71.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38SEK 22.99
$1.16MX$20.37
105.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.53SEK 72.8
$3.23MX$56.6
133.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.42SEK 71.7
$4.74MX$83.1
56.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.60SEK 15.48
$1.65MX$28.89
-3.03%
White Bread(500g)
$2.13SEK 20.57
$2.75MX$48.30
-22.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.79SEK 36.66
$1.87MX$32.87
102.67%
Eggs
$3.86SEK 37.30
$2.50MX$43.86
54.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.70SEK 113
$10.20MX$179
14.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.82SEK 114
$8.25MX$145
43.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.43SEK 110
$11.82MX$207
-3.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.87
$3.01MX$52.8
-14.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.69SEK 26.00
$1.81MX$31.77
48.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.34SEK 22.63
$2.00MX$35.07
17.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.01SEK 29.13
$2.00MX$35.00
50.50%
Potato(1kg)
$1.57SEK 15.16
$2.08MX$36.56
-24.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30SEK 12.61
$2.27MX$39.85
-42.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.56SEK 15.08
$1.46MX$25.55
6.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07SEK 10.34
$1.08MX$18.88
-0.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.57SEK 73.2
$4.35MX$76.3
74.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.24SEK 99.0
$16.99MX$298
-39.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SEK 15.45
$1.73MX$30.40
-7.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92SEK 18.52
$3.58MX$62.7
-46.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.28SEK 31.71
$0.39MX$6.79
741.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$74.9SEK 724
$18.69MX$328
300.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.39SEK 61.7
$1.33MX$23.25
380.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22SEK 11.82
$0.28MX$4.91
335.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.6SEK 788
$5.25MX$92.1
1453.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.70
$1.34MX$23.44
44.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.8KSEK 316.8K
$19.4KMX$340.5K
68.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KSEK 335.9K
$23.8KMX$418.0K
45.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$52.0SEK 503
$40.69MX$714
27.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.11SEK 204
$26.87MX$471
-21.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55SEK 353
$30.51MX$535
19.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.47SEK 391
$52.8MX$926
-23.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.85SEK 240
$26.65MX$467
-6.75%
Cinema Ticket
$13.65SEK 132
$6.51MX$114
109.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$128SEK 1,241
$428MX$7,508
-70.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$734SEK 7,091
$10.5KMX$184.2K
-93.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.9SEK 724
$57.3MX$1,004
30.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.69SEK 103
$45.50MX$798
-76.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$85.1SEK 823
$104MX$1,825
-18.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115SEK 1,110
$108MX$1,891
6.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$824SEK 7,962
$1,003MX$17.6K
-17.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663SEK 6,408
$623MX$10.9K
6.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,372SEK 13.3K
$2,109MX$37.0K
-34.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,065SEK 10.3K
$1,218MX$21.4K
-12.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,802SEK 36.7K
$3,885MX$68.1K
-2.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,106SEK 30.0K
$2,033MX$35.7K
52.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,963SEK 38.3K
$1,038MX$18.2K
281.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3
11.34
-73.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bålsta: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $824 in Bålsta and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bålsta pays 282% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $67.0 in Bålsta vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $292 per month, with Mexico City 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
Bålsta vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bålsta or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Bålsta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bålsta or in Mexico City?
Average pay runs 282% higher in Bålsta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bålsta compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $824 in Bålsta versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Bålsta compared to Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $1,609 per month in Bålsta versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bålsta compared to Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 301% less than in Bålsta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Bålsta or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,609 in Bålsta, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Bålsta. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bålsta or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Bålsta compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Bålsta 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.