😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,430 in Lima, OH versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,375 in Lima, OH versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,320 in Lima, OH versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Lima, OH is roughly 48% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Lima, OH77% above, Mexico City20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.06$15.06
$12.11MX$204
24.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3$50.3
$52.2MX$881
-3.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.91$9.91
$10.90MX$184
-9.08%
Cappuccino
$5.14$5.14
$4.05MX$68.4
26.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24$2.24
$1.72MX$28.95
30.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$1.38MX$23.25
45.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.44$5.44
$3.47MX$58.5
56.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.39$7.39
$5.81MX$98.1
27.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.55$0.55
$1.85MX$31.28
-70.27%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25$3.25
$3.22MX$54.4
0.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.01$4.01
$2.09MX$35.20
91.87%
Eggs
$2.95$2.95
$2.91MX$49.10
1.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96$8.96
$12.49MX$211
-28.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.86$10.86
$10.11MX$171
7.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74$15.74
$15.89MX$268
-0.94%
Apples(1kg)
$4.40$4.40
$3.31MX$56.0
32.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08$1.08
$2.13MX$35.90
-49.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.25$4.25
$2.19MX$36.97
94.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.50$4.50
$2.45MX$41.31
83.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18$2.18
$2.19MX$36.95
-0.46%
Onion(1kg)
$2.23$2.23
$1.90MX$32.15
17.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.04$2.04
$1.62MX$27.26
25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88$1.88
$1.35MX$22.78
39.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.47$10.47
$5.43MX$91.6
92.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.95$14.95
$17.59MX$297
-15.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.15$2.15
$2.07MX$34.90
3.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95$1.95
$4.75MX$80.1
-58.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.03$2.03
$0.34MX$5.74
497.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.47$43.47
$21.58MX$364
101.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.78$3.78
$2.04MX$34.44
85.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27$1.27
$0.58MX$9.75
118.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.66$24.66
$5.97MX$101
313.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85$0.85
$1.62MX$27.27
-47.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K$35.6K
$22.8KMX$385.0K
56.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.1K$24.1K
$26.7KMX$450.0K
-9.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$150$150
$65.2MX$1,101
130.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$75.9$75.9
$29.87MX$504
154.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.1$70.1
$36.55MX$617
91.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.25$41.25
$61.0MX$1,030
-32.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$48.13$48.13
$26.70MX$451
80.26%
Cinema Ticket
$14.59$14.59
$6.85MX$116
112.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,447$1,447
$453MX$7,652
219.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$19.6K$19.6K
$13.4KMX$225.7K
46.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.33$45.33
$75.0MX$1,265
-39.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79$44.79
$55.3MX$933
-18.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.4$83.4
$114MX$1,917
-26.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108$108
$123MX$2,070
-11.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,307$1,307
$1,134MX$19.1K
15.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,265$1,265
$712MX$12.0K
77.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,181$2,181
$2,571MX$43.4K
-15.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,839$1,839
$1,311MX$22.1K
40.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,428$1,428
$3,993MX$67.4K
-64.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,411$1,411
$2,095MX$35.4K
-32.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lima, OH
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$5,205$5,205
$1,047MX$17.7K
397.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.21
11.3
-45.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lima, OH: August 30, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,307 in Lima, OH and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lima, OH pays 397% 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: $50.0 in Lima, OH vs $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $348 vs $345, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Lima, OH vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lima, OH and in Mexico City?
Lima, OH and Mexico City differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($2,430 vs $1,646 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Lima, OH or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 397% higher in Lima, OH, 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 Lima, OH and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,307 in Lima, OH versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Lima, OH. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $50.0 in Lima, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $2,430 in Lima, OH, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lima, OH. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lima, OH 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 Lima, OH or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lima, OH 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: Lima, OH or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Lima, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.