🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,865 in Lulea.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $3,060 in Lulea.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $4,256 in Lulea.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 22% less than in Lulea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Lulea40% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$229
$12.56SEK 121
4.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$943
$94.6SEK 914
-43.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$170
$11.60SEK 112
-16.55%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.6
$4.87SEK 47.06
-23.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.34
$2.55SEK 24.63
-36.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.37
$1.97SEK 19.07
-41.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.6
$8.57SEK 82.8
-62.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$83.1
$9.97SEK 96.3
-52.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.89
$1.93SEK 18.70
-14.51%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$48.30
$3.42SEK 33.08
-19.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.87
$5.07SEK 49.01
-63.12%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.86
$4.74SEK 45.84
-47.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$179
$12.76SEK 123
-20.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$145
$14.05SEK 136
-41.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$207
$28.00SEK 271
-57.79%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.8
$2.61SEK 25.23
15.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.77
$2.76SEK 26.67
-34.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.07
$2.60SEK 25.10
-23.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$35.00
$4.36SEK 42.18
-54.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.56
$2.23SEK 21.55
-6.73%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.85
$1.66SEK 16.00
36.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.55
$3.48SEK 33.62
-58.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.88
$1.44SEK 13.88
-25.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$76.3
$7.42SEK 71.7
-41.37%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$298
$12.34SEK 119
37.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.40
$1.88SEK 18.21
-7.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.7
$1.85SEK 17.93
93.51%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.79
$3.36SEK 32.46
-88.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$328
$58.3SEK 564
-67.94%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.25
$9.54SEK 92.2
-86.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.91
$1.73SEK 16.73
-83.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$92.1
$74.5SEK 720
-92.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.44
$1.89SEK 18.27
-29.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$340.5K
$32.2KSEK 311.1K
-39.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$418.0K
$35.7KSEK 344.8K
-33.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$714
$176SEK 1,697
-76.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$471
$31.87SEK 308
-15.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$535
$28.56SEK 276
6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$926
$48.58SEK 470
8.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$467
$36.54SEK 353
-27.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$114
$13.73SEK 133
-52.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,508
$163SEK 1,571
163.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$184.2K
$5,827SEK 56.3K
80.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$1,004
$124SEK 1,194
-53.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$798
$33.60SEK 325
35.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,825
$130SEK 1,256
-19.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,891
$170SEK 1,648
-36.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.6K
$806SEK 7,789
24.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.9K
$589SEK 5,693
5.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$37.0K
$1,441SEK 13.9K
46.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.4K
$1,081SEK 10.4K
12.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$68.1K
$3,107SEK 30.0K
25.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.7K
$2,323SEK 22.5K
-12.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.2K
$2,654SEK 25.7K
-60.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.2
170.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lulea: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $806 in Lulea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 156% 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 $95.0 in Lulea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $426 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 Lulea: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Lulea?
Mexico City wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Lulea. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mexico City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Lulea?
On paper, salaries run 156% lower in Lulea. 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 Mexico City compared to Lulea?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $806 in Lulea. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Lulea?
Supermarket bills run roughly 46% higher in Lulea. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Lulea?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $95.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Mexico City or in Lulea?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,865 in Lulea, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Lulea. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Lulea?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mexico City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,456 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mexico City hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Lulea?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lulea are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Lulea. 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