Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Malmo and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Mexico City: $1,561 a month against $2,046 in Malmo, rent and utilities included – about $5,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Malmo
🇸🇪 Sweden
$2,046
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,561
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Malmo and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Malmo and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $2,046 per month in Malmo vs $1,561 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Malmo $2,046
  • Mexico City $1,561

A couple spends around $3,083 per month in Malmo vs $2,440 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Malmo $3,083
  • Mexico City $2,440

A family of three spends $4,121 per month in Malmo vs $3,319 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Malmo $4,121
  • Mexico City $3,319

Malmo costs about 31% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both Malmo and Mexico City sit above the global median – Malmo by 53%, Mexico City by 16%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.90 SEK 149
$11.12 MX$204
33.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$74.0 SEK 740
$48.99 MX$900
51.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.18 SEK 122
$11.23 MX$206
8.46%
Cappuccino
$4.83 SEK 48.23
$3.76 MX$69.0
28.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 SEK 33.52
$1.65 MX$30.34
103.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 SEK 26.97
$1.28 MX$23.48
110.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.46 SEK 84.5
$3.26 MX$59.8
159.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$9.10 SEK 90.9
$5.66 MX$104
60.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 SEK 17.26
$1.81 MX$33.23
-4.42%
White Bread (500g)
$2.87 SEK 28.67
$2.94 MX$54.0
-2.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.32 SEK 33.22
$2.05 MX$37.62
61.95%
Eggs
$4.11 SEK 41.10
$2.93 MX$53.7
40.27%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.74 SEK 127
$11.95 MX$219
6.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.86 SEK 119
$9.51 MX$175
24.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$21.61 SEK 216
$14.84 MX$273
45.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 SEK 29.93
$3.14 MX$57.7
-4.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.58 SEK 25.82
$2.01 MX$36.99
28.36%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.96 SEK 29.61
$2.08 MX$38.10
42.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.15 SEK 41.43
$2.22 MX$40.72
86.94%
Potato (1kg)
$1.66 SEK 16.62
$2.06 MX$37.82
-19.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.53 SEK 15.29
$1.88 MX$34.46
-18.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.47 SEK 24.65
$1.48 MX$27.18
66.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 SEK 12.24
$1.35 MX$24.70
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.72 SEK 77.1
$5.41 MX$99.3
42.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.53 SEK 115
$16.86 MX$310
-31.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 SEK 20.05
$1.98 MX$36.43
1.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 SEK 23.43
$4.32 MX$79.4
-45.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.15 SEK 31.45
$0.34 MX$6.33
826.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$63.5 SEK 635
$20.23 MX$371
214.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.00 SEK 59.9
$2.10 MX$38.47
185.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.41 SEK 24.07
$0.53 MX$9.74
354.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$49.13 SEK 491
$5.41 MX$99.3
808.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.74 SEK 17.36
$1.52 MX$27.91
14.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.3K SEK 322.6K
$21.7K MX$399.0K
48.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2K SEK 331.5K
$24.8K MX$455.6K
33.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$138 SEK 1,380
$63.0 MX$1,156
119.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.21 SEK 262
$28.88 MX$530
-9.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.07 SEK 361
$33.93 MX$623
6.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.93 SEK 399
$55.8 MX$1,024
-28.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.69 SEK 287
$24.90 MX$457
15.22%
Cinema Ticket
$17.17 SEK 172
$6.77 MX$124
153.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 SEK 1,666
$428 MX$7,854
-61.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,311 SEK 33.1K
$11.9K MX$218.0K
-72.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$98.0 SEK 979
$70.0 MX$1,286
39.93%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.19 SEK 442
$53.7 MX$986
-17.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 SEK 1,125
$110 MX$2,016
2.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$152 SEK 1,520
$115 MX$2,115
32.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,063 SEK 10.6K
$1,062 MX$19.5K
0.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$818 SEK 8,173
$671 MX$12.3K
21.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,720 SEK 17.2K
$2,379 MX$43.7K
-27.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,354 SEK 13.5K
$1,260 MX$23.1K
7.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,026 SEK 40.2K
$3,716 MX$68.2K
8.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,166 SEK 31.6K
$1,976 MX$36.3K
60.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malmo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,045 SEK 30.4K
$997 MX$18.3K
205.46%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.05
11.3
-73.01%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Malmo: October 5, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Malmo
$818
Mexico City
$671 18% $147
Groceries & Markets
Malmo
$372
Mexico City
$327 12% $45
Eating Out
Malmo
$298
Mexico City
$207 30.6% $91
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malmo
$200
Mexico City
$126 37.2% $75
Clothing & Footwear
Malmo
$183
Mexico City
$157 14.3% $26
Getting Around
Malmo
$94
Mexico City
$26 72% $68
Sport & Entertainment
Malmo
$74
Mexico City
$69 6.7% $5

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,063 in Malmo versus $1,062 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 205% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $74.0 in Malmo versus $49.00 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $372 vs $327 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇸🇪 Malmo
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
04:26 4:26 AM
20:26 8:26 PM
8 h behind Malmo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
316,588
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to SEK – Swedish Krona Converter

Swedish Krona exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.99 SEK (1 SEK = 0.1 USD). 1 EUR = 11.21 SEK (100 SEK = 8.92 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 18.36 MXN (100 MXN = 5.45 USD). 1 EUR = 20.59 MXN (100 MXN = 4.86 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Malmo Mexico City 9,540 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Malmo
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Malmo vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malmo or Mexico City?
Malmo costs about 31% more than Mexico City, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Malmo and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,069 per month in Malmo and $2,341 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Malmo or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Malmo and in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $167 per month in Malmo and $428 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Malmo or in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Malmo, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Malmo or in Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,561, than in Malmo at $2,046. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Malmo or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,561 versus $2,046 in Malmo. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Malmo or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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