🙂A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $2,023 in Kalmar, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $2,964 in Kalmar, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $3,906 in Kalmar, rent included.
🙂Mexico City is about 17% cheaper than Kalmar, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Mexico City and Kalmar sit above the global median – Mexico City by 22%, Kalmar by 47%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$15.61SEK 151
-22.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$916
$72.3SEK 701
-25.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$11.02SEK 107
0.64%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.6
$4.63SEK 44.92
-11.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.57
$2.85SEK 27.69
-41.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.58
$2.67SEK 25.90
-47.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.6
$9.86SEK 95.6
-66.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.9
$7.18SEK 69.6
-18.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.45
$1.47SEK 14.25
25.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.9
$2.90SEK 28.11
9.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.18
$3.21SEK 31.12
-35.51%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.74
$4.78SEK 46.41
-38.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$11.57SEK 112
8.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$11.38SEK 110
-11.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$22.74SEK 221
-29.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.6
$2.53SEK 24.58
33.99%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.31
$2.90SEK 28.17
-28.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.02
$3.25SEK 31.57
-34.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$41.01
$4.10SEK 39.76
-41.22%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.17
$1.47SEK 14.25
44.90%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.07
$1.63SEK 15.81
23.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.25
$1.99SEK 19.27
-22.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.19
$1.74SEK 16.87
-21.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$98.0
$8.06SEK 78.2
-28.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$9.21SEK 89.4
92.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.16
$1.99SEK 19.34
4.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.4
$2.58SEK 25.06
78.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$3.52SEK 34.16
-89.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$360
$80.9SEK 785
-73.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.89
$10.29SEK 99.8
-80.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.80
$1.75SEK 16.96
-66.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$49.43SEK 480
-87.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$1.84SEK 17.85
-15.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.6K
$31.4KSEK 305.1K
-27.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.7K
$29.7KSEK 288.1K
-8.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,145
$152SEK 1,472
-55.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$27.85SEK 270
9.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$633
$33.20SEK 322
12.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,044
$31.12SEK 302
97.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$461
$25.71SEK 249
5.48%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$15.24SEK 148
-53.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,750
$145SEK 1,411
213.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.6K
$4,972SEK 48.2K
175.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,260
$52.8SEK 512
40.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$969
$45.03SEK 437
26.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,961
$83.7SEK 812
37.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,064
$103SEK 998
18.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$921SEK 8,937
24.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.1K
$801SEK 7,769
-11.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.8K
$1,369SEK 13.3K
88.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$1,158SEK 11.2K
11.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$68.0K
$4,269SEK 41.4K
-6.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.2K
$2,902SEK 28.2K
-26.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kalmar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$2,984SEK 29.0K
-63.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.93
187.53%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Kalmar: September 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $921 in Kalmar. 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 176% higher in Kalmar, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $72.0 in Kalmar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $369 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Mexico City vs Kalmar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Kalmar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City, $2,023 in Kalmar – roughly 21% apart. Kalmar costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Kalmar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $3,035 in Kalmar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Kalmar?
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.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Kalmar?
Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Mexico City and $145 in Kalmar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Kalmar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,677, than in Kalmar at $2,023. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kalmar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Kalmar?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,677 in Mexico City to $2,023 in Kalmar. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Kalmar safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Kalmar?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kalmar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared