😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $1,056 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $1,536 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $2,016 in Lumut, Perak.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 59% more expensive than in Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 22% above, Lumut, Perak is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$3.83MYR 15.57
216.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$914
$12.29MYR 50.0
338.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$5.01MYR 20.37
121.36%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.5
$3.02MYR 12.28
35.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.53
$0.85MYR 3.46
97.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.55
$0.39MYR 1.58
256.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.5
$3.86MYR 15.70
-13.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.7
$6.27MYR 25.50
-6.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.41
$2.18MYR 8.87
-15.14%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.07MYR 4.36
196.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.13
$2.03MYR 8.25
1.97%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.67
$2.46MYR 9.99
19.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$15.53MYR 63.2
-18.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$4.76MYR 19.35
112.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$9.69MYR 39.42
66.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.5
$3.41MYR 13.87
-0.59%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.26
$1.92MYR 7.79
8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$35.97
$2.46MYR 10.00
-13.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$40.95
$1.60MYR 6.49
50.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.11
$1.33MYR 5.39
60.15%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.02
$1.46MYR 5.93
37.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.21
$1.21MYR 4.93
28.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.15
$0.76MYR 3.08
78.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$97.8
$4.40MYR 17.90
31.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$19.08MYR 77.6
-7.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.11
$3.41MYR 13.88
-39.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.3
$4.96MYR 20.20
-7.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$0.75MYR 3.06
-50.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$359
$12.22MYR 49.70
73.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.84
$1.23MYR 4.99
66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.79
$0.50MYR 2.03
16.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$4.87MYR 19.79
24.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.34
$0.78MYR 3.18
98.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.1K
$42.4KMYR 172.6K
-46.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.0K
$35.7KMYR 145.4K
-23.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,144
$64.9MYR 264
3.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$9.36MYR 38.07
227.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$632
$26.19MYR 107
42.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,043
$41.40MYR 168
48.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$460
$6.56MYR 26.69
313.41%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$5.34MYR 21.74
33.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,739
$298MYR 1,214
52.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.3K
$4,956MYR 20.2K
176.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,259
$72.9MYR 296
1.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$967
$42.54MYR 173
34.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,958
$88.1MYR 358
31.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,061
$99.7MYR 406
21.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$432MYR 1,756
165.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.0K
$337MYR 1,371
110.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.7K
$712MYR 2,898
261.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$497MYR 2,023
160.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$67.9K
$2,091MYR 8,507
91.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.1K
$1,125MYR 4,578
89.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$377MYR 1,535
186.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.2
169.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Lumut, Perak: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $432 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 187% 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 $345 vs $282 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 59% 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 187% 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $432 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 $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $1,056 in Lumut, Perak – a 59% 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 $1,056 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,677 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 $1,056 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 59% 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