🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,028 in Lome versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,520 in Lome versus $2,342 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,012 in Lome versus $3,199 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Lome costs roughly 31% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lome is 24% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.18F CFA 1,219
$13.29MX$231
-83.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.89F CFA 17.8K
$53.8MX$933
-40.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.15F CFA 2,876
$9.29MX$161
-44.56%
Cappuccino
$5.90F CFA 3,291
$3.61MX$62.6
63.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38F CFA 1,888
$1.56MX$27.03
116.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11F CFA 621
$1.12MX$19.46
-0.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.84F CFA 472
$3.13MX$54.3
-73.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71F CFA 955
$4.71MX$81.7
-63.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42F CFA 1,353
$1.70MX$29.54
42.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26F CFA 706
$2.77MX$48.03
-54.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85F CFA 1,031
$1.96MX$34.05
-5.61%
Eggs
$2.06F CFA 1,148
$2.60MX$45.21
-20.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.08F CFA 7,859
$9.94MX$173
41.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.50F CFA 4,746
$8.10MX$141
4.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.91F CFA 4,974
$11.50MX$200
-22.52%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63F CFA 1,471
$2.87MX$49.84
-8.36%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51F CFA 842
$1.73MX$30.07
-12.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.69F CFA 1,504
$2.00MX$34.73
34.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.43F CFA 1,358
$2.04MX$35.38
19.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80F CFA 1,007
$2.08MX$36.14
-13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75F CFA 975
$2.20MX$38.12
-20.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.52F CFA 289
$1.45MX$25.24
-64.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86F CFA 479
$1.07MX$18.63
-19.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.38F CFA 773
$4.27MX$74.2
-67.68%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.83F CFA 2,699
$14.32MX$249
-66.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.36F CFA 760
$1.76MX$30.62
-22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.50F CFA 839
$3.70MX$64.2
-59.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34F CFA 190
$0.35MX$6.12
-2.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$52.2F CFA 29.1K
$19.19MX$333
171.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10F CFA 1,172
$1.34MX$23.18
56.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74F CFA 415
$0.28MX$4.83
164.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.27F CFA 2,941
$5.33MX$92.6
-1.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19F CFA 666
$1.34MX$23.27
-11.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1KF CFA 7.9M
$19.1KMX$332.0K
-26.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.6KF CFA 14.3M
$23.9KMX$414.5K
7.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$172F CFA 96.0K
$39.86MX$692
331.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.30F CFA 12.4K
$26.78MX$465
-16.73%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.33F CFA 24.2K
$29.36MX$510
47.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.05F CFA 27.4K
$53.4MX$927
-8.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.08F CFA 5,069
$26.09MX$453
-65.20%
Cinema Ticket
$4.31F CFA 2,404
$6.40MX$111
-32.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$178F CFA 99.5K
$440MX$7,647
-59.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,148F CFA 2.9M
$10.8KMX$186.6K
-52.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.52F CFA 13.7K
$57.6MX$1,000
-57.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.17F CFA 15.2K
$45.02MX$781
-39.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.81F CFA 22.8K
$104MX$1,801
-60.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.2F CFA 52.6K
$108MX$1,874
-12.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$358F CFA 199.9K
$1,013MX$17.6K
-64.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$221F CFA 123.2K
$630MX$10.9K
-64.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764F CFA 426.4K
$2,162MX$37.5K
-64.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$300F CFA 167.7K
$1,222MX$21.2K
-75.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,793MX$65.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,332MX$40.5K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$264F CFA 147.4K
$1,075MX$18.7K
-75.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
11.34
-29.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lome: April 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $358 in Lome and $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 307% 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: $32 in Lome vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $285 per month, with Lome 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
Lome vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Lome or Mexico City?
Lome wins on cost – living expenses run 44% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lome the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Lome or Mexico City?
On paper, Mexico City earns 307% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Lome vs Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $358 in Lome versus $1,013 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Lome and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $178 in Lome versus $440 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Lome or Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Lome or Mexico City?
At $1,028 in Lome versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lome but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Lome the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Lome or Mexico City?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lome delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,028 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lome hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Lome gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.