Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Stockholm Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Stockholm

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,701 in Stockholm.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $4,056 in Stockholm.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $5,411 in Stockholm.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 38% less than in Stockholm, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 22% above, Stockholm 96% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14 MX$206
$18.46 SEK 179
-34.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$914
$105 SEK 1,018
-48.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.09 MX$188
$11.59 SEK 112
-4.31%
Cappuccino
$4.10 MX$69.5
$5.11 SEK 49.51
-19.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.53
$3.77 SEK 36.56
-55.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 MX$23.55
$3.28 SEK 31.81
-57.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.33 MX$56.5
$8.18 SEK 79.3
-59.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88 MX$99.7
$9.31 SEK 90.2
-36.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.41
$1.78 SEK 17.23
3.93%
White Bread (500g)
$3.17 MX$53.8
$4.02 SEK 38.96
-21.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.07 MX$35.13
$4.12 SEK 39.96
-49.76%
Eggs
$2.93 MX$49.67
$5.43 SEK 52.7
-46.04%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.59 MX$214
$13.49 SEK 131
-6.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$172
$13.56 SEK 131
-25.44%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.09 MX$273
$22.13 SEK 214
-27.29%
Apples (1kg)
$3.39 MX$57.5
$3.70 SEK 35.83
-8.38%
Banana (1kg)
$2.08 MX$35.26
$2.83 SEK 27.40
-26.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 MX$35.97
$3.24 SEK 31.41
-34.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.41 MX$40.95
$4.79 SEK 46.47
-49.69%
Potato (1kg)
$2.13 MX$36.11
$1.87 SEK 18.16
13.90%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.02
$1.86 SEK 18.04
8.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.55 MX$26.21
$2.57 SEK 24.87
-39.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36 MX$23.15
$2.40 SEK 23.30
-43.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77 MX$97.8
$9.12 SEK 88.4
-36.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.74 MX$301
$12.57 SEK 122
41.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$35.11
$2.15 SEK 20.84
-3.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61 MX$78.3
$2.58 SEK 24.99
78.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.37 MX$6.21
$4.59 SEK 44.52
-91.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.18 MX$359
$111 SEK 1,076
-80.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.05 MX$34.84
$6.21 SEK 60.2
-66.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.79
$1.55 SEK 14.98
-62.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 MX$103
$58.6 SEK 568
-89.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.55 MX$26.34
$1.90 SEK 18.41
-18.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K MX$388.1K
$34.9K SEK 337.9K
-34.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K MX$462.0K
$34.9K SEK 338.4K
-21.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$67.4 MX$1,144
$287 SEK 2,782
-76.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62 MX$520
$21.96 SEK 213
39.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24 MX$632
$39.97 SEK 387
-6.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.5 MX$1,043
$49.02 SEK 475
25.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12 MX$460
$40.25 SEK 390
-32.62%
Cinema Ticket
$7.11 MX$121
$19.94 SEK 193
-64.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$456 MX$7,739
$168 SEK 1,632
171.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.7K MX$232.3K
$17.4K SEK 168.9K
-21.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2 MX$1,259
$118 SEK 1,139
-36.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0 MX$967
$56.6 SEK 549
0.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 MX$1,958
$141 SEK 1,364
-17.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 MX$2,061
$200 SEK 1,936
-39.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,148 MX$19.5K
$1,773 SEK 17.2K
-35.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$709 MX$12.0K
$1,113 SEK 10.8K
-36.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,577 MX$43.7K
$3,309 SEK 32.1K
-22.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,295 MX$22.0K
$1,920 SEK 18.6K
-32.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,005 MX$67.9K
$11.6K SEK 112.7K
-65.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,130 MX$36.1K
$6,540 SEK 63.4K
-67.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stockholm
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,082 MX$18.4K
$3,645 SEK 35.3K
-70.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
3.31
241.39%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Stockholm: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $1,773 in Stockholm. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Stockholm pays 237% 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 $105 in Stockholm for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $433 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 Stockholm: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Stockholm?
Mexico City and Stockholm differ by about 61% in total monthly costs ($1,677 vs $2,701 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 237% lower in Stockholm. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Stockholm?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $1,773 in Stockholm. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Stockholm?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 424% less than in Stockholm. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Stockholm?
Childcare runs $456 in Mexico City versus $168 in Stockholm. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,701 in Stockholm, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Stockholm. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Stockholm?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Stockholm safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Stockholm are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Stockholm?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 61% less than in Stockholm. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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