😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $947 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,416 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,884 in Lumut, Perak.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 55% more expensive than Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Lumut, Perak is 29% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$3.60MYR 14.26
266.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$11.55MYR 45.80
366.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.69MYR 18.61
100.85%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$2.75MYR 10.91
29.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.84MYR 3.31
92.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.33MYR 1.32
236.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$3.71MYR 14.71
-15.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$6.00MYR 23.77
-22.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$2.08MYR 8.23
-18.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$1.00MYR 3.97
172.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$1.73MYR 6.86
10.40%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$2.17MYR 8.62
17.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$14.75MYR 58.5
-32.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$4.58MYR 18.15
76.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$9.88MYR 39.18
17.61%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$2.84MYR 11.27
4.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.56MYR 6.20
16.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$2.70MYR 10.70
-25.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.48MYR 5.86
37.16%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.23MYR 4.88
72.36%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.33MYR 5.28
70.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$1.20MYR 4.77
16.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.67MYR 2.64
68.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$4.18MYR 16.58
2.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$19.21MYR 76.2
-19.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$3.33MYR 13.22
-47.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$4.26MYR 16.88
-15.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.74MYR 2.94
-48.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$11.99MYR 47.55
59.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$1.16MYR 4.58
18.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.15MYR 4.57
-75.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$4.78MYR 18.97
14.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.47MYR 1.88
176.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$40.3KMYR 159.9K
-53.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$32.2KMYR 127.7K
-28.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$64.0MYR 254
-36.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$11.61MYR 46.04
130.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$25.39MYR 101
18.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$37.06MYR 147
40.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$5.77MYR 22.87
365.16%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$5.22MYR 20.71
20.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$270MYR 1,070
61.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$9,523MYR 37.8K
9.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$61.2MYR 243
-7.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$37.04MYR 147
19.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$85.7MYR 340
20.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$81.2MYR 322
30.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$390MYR 1,545
162.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$269MYR 1,067
134.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$636MYR 2,521
235.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$471MYR 1,868
163.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,899MYR 7,528
105.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$958MYR 3,798
115.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Lumut, Perak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$389MYR 1,544
186.33%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Lumut, Perak: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $390 in Lumut, Perak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 186% 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 $288 vs $268 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 55% 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 Lumut, Perak?
Mexico City pays 186% 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 Lumut, Perak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $390 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 vs 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 $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $947 in Lumut, Perak – a 55% 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 Lumut, Perak?
At $947 in Lumut, Perak versus $1,467 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 $947 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 55% 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