😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,640 in Bålsta versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,500 in Bålsta versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,359 in Bålsta versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
😐Living in Bålsta is roughly 12% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Bålsta22% above, Mexico City10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.33SEK 124
$13.18MX$228
1.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.3SEK 637
$53.9MX$932
26.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.44SEK 88.1
$9.42MX$163
0.21%
Cappuccino
$4.10SEK 38.27
$3.55MX$61.4
15.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78SEK 25.92
$1.62MX$27.98
71.60%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SEK 22.43
$1.11MX$19.27
116.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.35SEK 68.6
$3.12MX$54.0
135.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.51SEK 70.1
$4.63MX$80.1
62.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SEK 15.16
$1.70MX$29.43
-4.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.08SEK 19.41
$2.72MX$47.02
-23.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.79SEK 35.36
$1.91MX$33.07
98.43%
Eggs
$3.91SEK 36.51
$2.54MX$43.86
53.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.38SEK 106
$10.03MX$174
13.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.86SEK 111
$8.09MX$140
46.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.38SEK 106
$11.62MX$201
-2.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72SEK 25.37
$2.97MX$51.3
-8.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.65SEK 24.76
$1.81MX$31.24
46.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38SEK 22.20
$2.01MX$34.82
18.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.92SEK 27.27
$2.03MX$35.20
43.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56SEK 14.56
$2.12MX$36.75
-26.42%
Onion(1kg)
$1.30SEK 12.14
$2.27MX$39.25
-42.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.60SEK 14.97
$1.40MX$24.22
14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04SEK 9.68
$1.13MX$19.55
-7.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.52SEK 70.2
$4.27MX$73.9
76.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.83SEK 101
$15.56MX$269
-30.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SEK 14.49
$1.76MX$30.39
-11.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SEK 18.23
$3.60MX$62.2
-45.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.41SEK 31.82
$0.38MX$6.62
797.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$73.0SEK 681
$19.18MX$332
280.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.20SEK 57.9
$1.38MX$23.79
349.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19SEK 11.14
$0.28MX$4.78
325.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$81.6SEK 761
$5.45MX$94.2
1397.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.93SEK 18.05
$1.30MX$22.55
48.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KSEK 298.3K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
71.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KSEK 320.8K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
48.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$53.1SEK 495
$40.86MX$707
29.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.82SEK 194
$26.81MX$464
-22.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.89SEK 344
$29.96MX$518
23.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.85SEK 372
$52.0MX$900
-23.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.53SEK 238
$26.84MX$464
-4.88%
Cinema Ticket
$13.50SEK 126
$6.30MX$109
114.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$125SEK 1,165
$436MX$7,544
-71.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$748SEK 6,978
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-92.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.3SEK 703
$56.7MX$980
32.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.66SEK 99.5
$44.38MX$768
-75.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.6SEK 789
$103MX$1,780
-17.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115SEK 1,074
$106MX$1,825
9.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$842SEK 7,860
$1,022MX$17.7K
-17.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$664SEK 6,199
$631MX$10.9K
5.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,413SEK 13.2K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-33.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,074SEK 10.0K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-13.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,129SEK 38.5K
$3,903MX$67.5K
5.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,918SEK 27.2K
$2,064MX$35.7K
41.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bålsta
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,120SEK 38.4K
$1,115MX$19.3K
269.47%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $842 in Bålsta and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bålsta pays 269% 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: $68.0 in Bålsta vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $309 vs $288 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 12% 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 Mexico City?
Bålsta pays 269% 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bålsta vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $842 in Bålsta versus $1,022 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 $1,640 per month in Bålsta versus $1,467 in Mexico City – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Bålsta vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 281% 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 Mexico City?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,640 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 $1,467 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 12% less than in Bålsta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.