πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $3,280 in Lachen versus $1,448 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $5,000 in Lachen versus $2,354 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,720 in Lachen versus $3,260 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Lachen is roughly 126% more expensive than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Lachen146% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$30.87CHFΒ 24.48
$12.96MX$223
138.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$146CHFΒ 116
$52.3MX$900
178.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$18.39CHFΒ 14.58
$9.69MX$167
89.78%
Cappuccino
$6.15CHFΒ 4.88
$3.75MX$64.6
64.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.72CHFΒ 4.54
$1.56MX$26.91
266.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.19CHFΒ 4.11
$1.16MX$19.93
347.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.39CHFΒ 5.86
$3.24MX$55.8
128.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.01CHFΒ 5.56
$4.90MX$84.3
43.06%
π Groceries & Markets
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.29CHFΒ 1.81
$1.70MX$29.29
34.71%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62CHFΒ 2.08
$2.67MX$45.90
-1.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43CHFΒ 1.93
$1.89MX$32.49
28.57%
Eggs
$8.30CHFΒ 6.58
$2.52MX$43.37
229.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$27.92CHFΒ 22.14
$10.02MX$172
178.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.89CHFΒ 11.81
$8.53MX$147
74.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$40.81CHFΒ 32.36
$11.94MX$205
241.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.13CHFΒ 2.48
$2.97MX$51.1
5.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89CHFΒ 1.50
$1.79MX$30.88
5.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.42CHFΒ 1.92
$2.00MX$34.40
21.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.95CHFΒ 3.93
$1.96MX$33.74
152.55%
Potato(1kg)
$2.52CHFΒ 2.00
$2.16MX$37.21
16.67%
Onion(1kg)
$2.37CHFΒ 1.88
$2.27MX$39.04
4.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.58CHFΒ 2.05
$1.40MX$24.14
84.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.15CHFΒ 0.91
$1.11MX$19.18
3.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.77CHFΒ 8.54
$4.20MX$72.2
156.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.68CHFΒ 9.27
$16.54MX$285
-29.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23CHFΒ 1.77
$1.68MX$28.94
32.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29CHFΒ 1.82
$3.59MX$61.8
-36.21%
π Getting Around
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.82CHFΒ 3.03
$0.39MX$6.65
879.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$100CHFΒ 79.6
$19.19MX$330
422.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.77CHFΒ 5.37
$1.38MX$23.77
390.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.27CHFΒ 3.39
$0.30MX$5.19
1323.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$79.7CHFΒ 63.2
$5.39MX$92.7
1377.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.19CHFΒ 1.74
$1.29MX$22.13
69.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KCHFΒ 32.0K
$18.9KMX$325.1K
113.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$42.0KCHFΒ 33.3K
$23.8KMX$409.5K
76.32%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124CHFΒ 98.3
$39.86MX$686
210.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$59.9CHFΒ 47.50
$27.83MX$479
115.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.8CHFΒ 42.68
$29.77MX$512
80.75%
π Sport & Entertainment
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$89.2CHFΒ 70.7
$52.0MX$894
71.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.22MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$21.96CHFΒ 17.41
$6.27MX$108
250.24%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,789CHFΒ 2,212
$433MX$7,443
544.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$35.3KCHFΒ 28.0K
$10.5KMX$181.3K
235.41%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$122CHFΒ 96.6
$57.0MX$981
113.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.0CHFΒ 52.3
$45.33MX$780
45.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$157CHFΒ 125
$102MX$1,753
54.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$230CHFΒ 182
$109MX$1,867
111.48%
π Accommodation & Living
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,693CHFΒ 1,343
$994MX$17.1K
70.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,463CHFΒ 1,160
$617MX$10.6K
137.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,778CHFΒ 2,203
$2,086MX$35.9K
33.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,509CHFΒ 1,990
$1,256MX$21.6K
99.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.4KCHFΒ 13.0K
$3,936MX$67.7K
316.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$11.6KCHFΒ 9,166
$2,089MX$35.9K
453.33%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Lachen
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$10.1KCHFΒ 7,971
$1,131MX$19.5K
788.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
11.34
-77.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lachen: June 16, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,693 in Lachen and $994 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Lachen pays 788% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $146 in Lachen vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $510 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
Lachen vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lachen or Mexico City?
Mexico City wins on cost β living expenses run 126% lower than in Lachen. 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 Lachen or Mexico City?
Lachen pays 788% 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 Lachen vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,693 in Lachen versus $994 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Lachen vs Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 423% less than in Lachen. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Lachen and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $2,789 in Lachen versus $433 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Lachen or Mexico City?
At $1,448 in Mexico City versus $3,280 in Lachen, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lachen. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lachen or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value β similar infrastructure at $1,448 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Lachen compared to Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Lachen 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 β expenses run 126% less than in Lachen. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.