🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,872 in Lulea.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,058 in Lulea.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,244 in Lulea.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 11% less than in Lulea, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Lulea37% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$204
$12.34SEK 120
-3.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$884
$96.3SEK 940
-46.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$11.55SEK 113
-1.21%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.5
$4.50SEK 43.88
-11.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.43
$2.61SEK 25.46
-36.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.73
$1.96SEK 19.10
-32.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.5
$8.72SEK 85.1
-60.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$9.71SEK 94.7
-39.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.15
$1.80SEK 17.58
4.44%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.8
$3.32SEK 32.39
-2.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.03
$5.01SEK 48.86
-56.89%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.63
$4.66SEK 45.49
-37.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$220
$12.68SEK 124
1.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$172
$13.51SEK 132
-25.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$26.47SEK 258
-40.08%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.5
$2.51SEK 24.48
31.08%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.38
$2.65SEK 25.88
-24.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.69
$2.54SEK 24.74
-13.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.37
$4.34SEK 42.32
-45.62%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.20
$2.16SEK 21.07
-5.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.58
$1.61SEK 15.67
18.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.50
$3.35SEK 32.69
-51.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.93
$1.32SEK 12.92
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.6
$6.94SEK 67.7
-21.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$302
$12.23SEK 119
44.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.21
$1.79SEK 17.47
15.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.3
$1.82SEK 17.76
157.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.80
$3.35SEK 32.71
-89.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$57.5SEK 561
-63.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.93
$9.38SEK 91.6
-77.61%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.58
$2.11SEK 20.55
-73.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.6
$70.7SEK 690
-91.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.51
$1.72SEK 16.76
-6.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$391.4K
$33.1KSEK 323.2K
-31.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$458.3K
$35.0KSEK 341.2K
-23.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,117
$171SEK 1,668
-61.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$516
$31.66SEK 309
-4.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$637
$26.80SEK 262
38.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,024
$47.93SEK 468
24.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$455
$35.74SEK 349
-25.71%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$13.39SEK 131
-47.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,961
$156SEK 1,525
197.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.4K
$5,572SEK 54.4K
138.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,300
$123SEK 1,205
-38.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$959
$33.51SEK 327
66.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,917
$127SEK 1,234
-11.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,065
$164SEK 1,599
-26.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$804SEK 7,842
37.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.3K
$601SEK 5,869
19.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.3K
$1,458SEK 14.2K
73.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$1,100SEK 10.7K
17.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.4K
$3,121SEK 30.5K
27.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.8K
$2,309SEK 22.5K
-9.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lulea
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$2,579SEK 25.2K
-59.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.85
193.51%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Lulea: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $804 in Lulea. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lulea pays 149% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $96.0 in Lulea for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $411 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 13% 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 149% 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: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $804 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 19% 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 $52.0 versus $96.0 in Lulea. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $3,000/month in Mexico City or in Lulea?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,872 in Lulea, a $3,000 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 $1,660 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 13% 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