😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $925 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,374 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $1,823 in Lumut, Perak.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 58% more expensive than in Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Lumut, Perak is 31% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$3.63MYR 14.86
260.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$11.56MYR 47.27
364.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$4.75MYR 19.44
103.79%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$2.86MYR 11.69
30.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.84MYR 3.45
92.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.36MYR 1.49
222.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.63MYR 14.87
-11.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$5.91MYR 24.17
-19.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.99MYR 8.13
-17.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.05MYR 4.31
161.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$1.70MYR 6.97
10.00%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.19MYR 8.94
14.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$14.49MYR 59.3
-29.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$4.69MYR 19.16
75.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$9.43MYR 38.57
25.34%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$2.91MYR 11.88
3.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$1.63MYR 6.65
11.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$2.60MYR 10.64
-23.08%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$1.48MYR 6.05
35.14%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.28MYR 5.25
62.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.39MYR 5.70
63.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.21MYR 4.95
20.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.63MYR 2.57
71.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$4.35MYR 17.79
-
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$18.76MYR 76.7
-9.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$3.21MYR 13.13
-46.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$4.26MYR 17.42
-15.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.68MYR 2.78
-42.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$11.99MYR 49.03
55.88%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$1.21MYR 4.93
9.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.10MYR 4.51
-74.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$4.58MYR 18.74
14.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$0.48MYR 1.96
179.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$40.2KMYR 164.2K
-51.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$32.1KMYR 131.2K
-25.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$63.3MYR 259
-35.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$11.42MYR 46.70
135.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$25.41MYR 104
20.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$37.39MYR 153
41.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$5.77MYR 23.59
361.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$5.31MYR 21.72
22.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$267MYR 1,092
60.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$9,479MYR 38.8K
10.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$61.8MYR 253
-7.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$38.08MYR 156
19.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$87.4MYR 358
19.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$81.1MYR 332
32.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$394MYR 1,610
154.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$267MYR 1,094
132.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$635MYR 2,595
232.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$462MYR 1,890
163.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$2,060MYR 8,424
88.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,147MYR 4,692
77.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$382MYR 1,564
171.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.47
153.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Lumut, Perak: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $394 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 171% 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 $12.00 in Lumut, Perak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $264 per month, with Lumut, Perak 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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Lumut, Perak?
Lumut, Perak wins on cost – living expenses run 58% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Lumut, Perak the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Lumut, Perak?
Average pay runs 171% higher in Mexico City, 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 compared to Lumut, Perak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $394 in Lumut, Perak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Lumut, Perak?
Dining out is cheaper in Lumut, Perak – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Lumut, Perak?
All in, you'll spend $1,456 per month in Mexico City versus $925 in Lumut, Perak – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Lumut, Perak?
At $925 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Lumut, Perak but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Lumut, Perak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Lumut, Perak?
Both work as nomad bases, but Lumut, Perak delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $925 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Lumut, Perak hard to pass up.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Lumut, Perak?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Lumut, Perak 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 Lumut, Perak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 58% 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