🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Lome versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,501 in Lome versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,954 in Lome versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Lome costs roughly 28% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lome is 21% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.17F CFA 1,248
$13.07MX$228
-83.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.09F CFA 18.4K
$53.8MX$936
-40.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.16F CFA 2,964
$9.68MX$169
-46.69%
Cappuccino
$5.62F CFA 3,229
$3.74MX$65.1
50.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46F CFA 1,984
$1.62MX$28.13
113.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11F CFA 636
$1.16MX$20.23
-4.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.86F CFA 493
$3.23MX$56.2
-73.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80F CFA 1,034
$4.74MX$82.5
-62.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.42F CFA 1,390
$1.65MX$28.68
46.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31F CFA 751
$2.75MX$47.95
-52.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.81F CFA 1,037
$1.87MX$32.63
-3.21%
Eggs
$2.06F CFA 1,186
$2.50MX$43.54
-17.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.16F CFA 8,128
$10.20MX$178
38.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.21F CFA 4,711
$8.25MX$144
-0.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.37F CFA 5,381
$11.82MX$206
-20.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.67F CFA 1,532
$3.01MX$52.4
-11.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43F CFA 819
$1.81MX$31.54
-20.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.62F CFA 1,506
$2.00MX$34.81
31.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.52F CFA 1,447
$2.00MX$34.74
26.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.80F CFA 1,033
$2.08MX$36.30
-13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75F CFA 1,004
$2.27MX$39.56
-22.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55F CFA 313
$1.46MX$25.36
-62.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87F CFA 497
$1.08MX$18.74
-19.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.43F CFA 821
$4.35MX$75.7
-67.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.66F CFA 2,676
$16.99MX$296
-72.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38F CFA 794
$1.73MX$30.18
-20.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57F CFA 901
$3.58MX$62.3
-56.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34F CFA 194
$0.39MX$6.74
-12.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$53.9F CFA 30.9K
$18.69MX$325
188.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04F CFA 1,173
$1.33MX$23.08
53.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.73F CFA 421
$0.28MX$4.87
160.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.24F CFA 3,008
$5.25MX$91.5
-0.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25F CFA 720
$1.34MX$23.27
-6.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$14.1KF CFA 8.1M
$19.4KMX$338.0K
-27.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KF CFA 14.8M
$23.8KMX$415.0K
8.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$178F CFA 102.4K
$40.69MX$709
338.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.67F CFA 12.4K
$26.87MX$468
-19.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.41F CFA 24.9K
$30.51MX$531
42.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.00F CFA 28.1K
$52.8MX$919
-7.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.73F CFA 5,013
$26.65MX$464
-67.24%
Cinema Ticket
$4.29F CFA 2,465
$6.51MX$113
-34.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$173F CFA 99.3K
$428MX$7,454
-59.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,151F CFA 3.0M
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-50.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.78F CFA 14.2K
$57.3MX$997
-56.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.41F CFA 15.7K
$45.50MX$792
-39.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$40.82F CFA 23.4K
$104MX$1,812
-60.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.1F CFA 55.2K
$108MX$1,878
-10.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363F CFA 208.6K
$1,003MX$17.5K
-63.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$221F CFA 126.6K
$623MX$10.8K
-64.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$757F CFA 434.6K
$2,109MX$36.7K
-64.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$302F CFA 173.4K
$1,218MX$21.2K
-75.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lome
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$261F CFA 149.9K
$1,038MX$18.1K
-74.85%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Lome and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 298% 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: $32.00 in Lome vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $292 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 39% 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 in Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 298% lower in Mexico City. 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 compared to Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $363 in Lome versus $1,003 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 in Mexico City?
Childcare runs $173 in Lome versus $428 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 in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 17% 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 in Mexico City?
At $1,049 in Lome versus $1,456 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 $1,049 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 39% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.