Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lima, OH Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Lima, OH

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,453 in Lima, OH.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $3,828 in Lima, OH.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $5,204 in Lima, OH.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 40% less than in Lima, OH, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 9% above, Lima, OH 83% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30 MX$231
$20.28 $20.28
-34.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$932
$79.5 $79.5
-32.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$10.95 $10.95
-13.97%
Cappuccino
$3.59 MX$62.3
$4.91 $4.91
-26.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$2.56 $2.56
-36.72%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.49
$2.20 $2.20
-49.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$56.3
$5.66 $5.66
-42.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65 MX$80.6
$7.08 $7.08
-34.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.64 MX$28.37
$0.83 $0.83
97.59%
White Bread (500g)
$2.65 MX$46.00
$3.11 $3.11
-14.79%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.99
$4.08 $4.08
-51.96%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$44.08
$3.14 $3.14
-19.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.97 MX$173
$13.29 $13.29
-24.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.39 MX$145
$14.08 $14.08
-40.41%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.83 MX$205
$16.20 $16.20
-26.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$49.62
$5.91 $5.91
-51.61%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 MX$30.05
$1.31 $1.31
32.06%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$34.50
$5.53 $5.53
-64.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.51
$5.17 $5.17
-60.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.06 MX$35.64
$3.76 $3.76
-45.21%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 MX$39.54
$3.07 $3.07
-25.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.45 MX$25.05
$2.17 $2.17
-33.18%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09 MX$18.83
$2.08 $2.08
-47.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$9.43 $9.43
-54.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.67 MX$254
$14.78 $14.78
-0.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.58
$2.02 $2.02
-12.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 MX$61.8
$2.55 $2.55
40.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.67
$1.96 $1.96
-80.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.73 MX$325
$42.84 $42.84
-56.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.09
$2.94 $2.94
-52.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.26
$1.51 $1.51
-80.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.41 MX$93.8
$26.90 $26.90
-79.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.22
$0.82 $0.82
63.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$326.7K
$30.3K $30.3K
-37.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$402.0K
$25.7K $25.7K
-9.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.30 MX$698
$276 $276
-85.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15 MX$471
$61.2 $61.2
-55.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46 MX$510
$69.0 $69.0
-57.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.7 MX$914
$36.75 $36.75
43.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17 MX$454
$34.55 $34.55
-24.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 MX$107
$11.98 $11.98
-48.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$441 MX$7,637
$1,251 $1,251
-64.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.7K MX$185.4K
$15.0K $15.0K
-28.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2 MX$992
$55.1 $55.1
3.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04 MX$781
$38.58 $38.58
16.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,793
$80.1 $80.1
29.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,884
$102 $102
6.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.3K
$867 $867
15.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$632 MX$11.0K
$1,115 $1,115
-43.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,141 MX$37.1K
$2,672 $2,672
-19.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,253 MX$21.7K
$2,215 $2,215
-43.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,745 MX$64.9K
$1,431 $1,431
161.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,381 MX$41.3K
$1,400 $1,400
70.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lima, OH
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,079 MX$18.7K
$5,104 $5,104
-78.85%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
6.51
74.19%

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

Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026

Last update for Lima, OH: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $867 in Lima, OH. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lima, OH pays 373% 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: $54 in Mexico City vs $79 in Lima, OH for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $408 per month, with Mexico City 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
Mexico City vs Lima, OH: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Lima, OH?
Mexico City and Lima, OH differ by about 67% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $2,453 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Lima, OH earns 373% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Lima, OH?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $867 in Lima, OH. 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 43% 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 $54.0 versus $79.0 in Lima, OH. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,466 in Mexico City versus $2,453 in Lima, OH, a $2,000 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 Mexico City and Lima, OH?
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 Mexico City or Lima, OH safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lima, OH 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: Mexico City or Lima, OH?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 67% less than in Lima, OH. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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