😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,047 in Lome.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,533 in Lome.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,020 in Lome.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 40% more expensive than Lome, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Lome is 22% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$230
$2.15F CFA 1,225
513.02%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$941
$31.22F CFA 17.8K
72.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$165
$5.38F CFA 3,061
75.09%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$62.0
$5.61F CFA 3,193
-36.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.25
$3.46F CFA 1,969
-53.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.46
$1.11F CFA 632
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.5
$0.84F CFA 480
271.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$1.71F CFA 972
170.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.71
$2.48F CFA 1,409
-31.45%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.47
$1.33F CFA 754
104.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.39
$1.83F CFA 1,043
4.37%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.28
$2.10F CFA 1,193
20.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$175
$14.13F CFA 8,039
-29.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$141
$8.41F CFA 4,786
-3.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$203
$9.44F CFA 5,369
23.09%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.8
$2.71F CFA 1,542
9.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.50F CFA 852
20.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.15
$2.62F CFA 1,493
-23.28%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.53
$2.48F CFA 1,413
-18.15%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$37.10
$1.79F CFA 1,020
18.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.63
$1.74F CFA 989
30.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.45
$0.50F CFA 286
180.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.74
$0.85F CFA 486
32.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.6
$1.44F CFA 821
196.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$272
$4.87F CFA 2,770
219.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.33F CFA 755
32.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.8
$1.51F CFA 862
138.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.69
$0.36F CFA 206
5.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$335
$53.3F CFA 30.3K
-63.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.02
$2.13F CFA 1,213
-35.21%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$0.69F CFA 392
-59.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$95.1
$5.21F CFA 2,962
4.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$1.25F CFA 710
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$326.3K
$14.1KF CFA 8.0M
32.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$403.9K
$26.0KF CFA 14.8M
-10.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$714
$173F CFA 98.3K
-76.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$468
$21.89F CFA 12.5K
22.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$523
$44.32F CFA 25.2K
-32.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$908
$49.54F CFA 28.2K
5.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$469
$8.63F CFA 4,910
211.01%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$110
$4.33F CFA 2,464
45.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,616
$177F CFA 100.7K
146.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$181.9K
$5,103F CFA 2.9M
104.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$989
$24.39F CFA 13.9K
132.27%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$775
$27.26F CFA 15.5K
62.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,797
$42.14F CFA 24.0K
144.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,843
$94.0F CFA 53.5K
12.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.8K
$360F CFA 204.6K
184.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$11.0K
$224F CFA 127.2K
182.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.3K
$765F CFA 435.3K
179.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.7K
$299F CFA 170.4K
315.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$36.0K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lome
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.5K
$267F CFA 151.8K
318.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
8
41.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lome: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $360 in Lome. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 318% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $31.00 in Lome for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $252 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
Mexico City vs Lome: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Lome?
Lome wins on cost – living expenses run 40% 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 Mexico City or Lome?
Mexico City pays 318% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Lome?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $360 in Lome. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and Lome?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $177 in Lome. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or Lome?
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 Mexico City or Lome?
At $1,047 in Lome versus $1,467 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, Mexico City or Lome?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lome delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,047 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 40% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared