😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,776 in Ostersund versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,833 in Ostersund versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,890 in Ostersund versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ostersund is roughly 7% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Ostersund30% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.02SEK 138
$11.92MX$206
17.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$78.4SEK 773
$51.6MX$890
52.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.49SEK 103
$11.41MX$197
-8.06%
Cappuccino
$4.84SEK 47.68
$3.99MX$68.9
21.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.81SEK 27.68
$1.66MX$28.61
69.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25SEK 22.13
$1.33MX$22.87
69.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.36SEK 72.6
$3.47MX$59.9
112.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.10SEK 70.0
$5.90MX$102
20.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54SEK 15.18
$1.88MX$32.36
-18.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.98SEK 29.36
$3.25MX$56.1
-8.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.93SEK 48.60
$2.16MX$37.26
128.24%
Eggs
$3.46SEK 34.08
$2.90MX$49.94
19.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.28SEK 141
$12.86MX$222
11.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.84SEK 117
$10.05MX$173
17.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.74SEK 155
$15.86MX$273
-0.76%
Apples(1kg)
$4.46SEK 43.94
$3.29MX$56.8
35.56%
Banana(1kg)
$2.96SEK 29.13
$2.01MX$34.60
47.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.55SEK 34.97
$2.20MX$37.93
61.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.28SEK 42.21
$2.36MX$40.63
81.36%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65SEK 16.23
$2.05MX$35.43
-19.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62SEK 15.94
$1.90MX$32.79
-14.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.39SEK 23.53
$1.61MX$27.68
48.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.54SEK 15.20
$1.40MX$24.09
10.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.08SEK 79.6
$5.46MX$94.2
47.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.53SEK 104
$17.65MX$304
-40.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99SEK 19.65
$2.06MX$35.44
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23SEK 21.99
$4.68MX$80.8
-52.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.40SEK 33.55
$0.34MX$5.84
900.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$81.2SEK 801
$20.81MX$359
290.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.26SEK 61.7
$2.10MX$36.15
198.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.72SEK 16.96
$0.56MX$9.64
207.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.2SEK 603
$5.81MX$100
952.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.88SEK 18.55
$1.61MX$27.68
16.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KSEK 344.2K
$22.8KMX$393.8K
52.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.3KSEK 338.2K
$26.8KMX$461.2K
28.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107SEK 1,054
$65.2MX$1,124
64.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.13SEK 267
$30.09MX$519
-9.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.47SEK 389
$37.18MX$641
6.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.68SEK 391
$59.8MX$1,030
-33.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.20SEK 258
$26.55MX$458
-1.32%
Cinema Ticket
$15.27SEK 150
$7.04MX$121
116.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131SEK 1,291
$465MX$8,012
-71.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,237SEK 51.6K
$13.3KMX$228.9K
-60.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.6SEK 932
$75.9MX$1,308
24.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.68SEK 430
$56.0MX$965
-21.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SEK 965
$112MX$1,929
-12.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$144SEK 1,424
$121MX$2,078
19.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$844SEK 8,316
$1,103MX$19.0K
-23.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$604SEK 5,955
$721MX$12.4K
-16.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,420SEK 14.0K
$2,530MX$43.6K
-43.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,061SEK 10.5K
$1,293MX$22.3K
-18.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,145SEK 40.8K
$3,991MX$68.8K
3.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,859SEK 28.2K
$2,090MX$36.0K
36.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ostersund
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.42
11.3
-69.73%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ostersund: September 15, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $844 in Ostersund and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $78.0 in Ostersund vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $345 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
Ostersund vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ostersund and in Mexico City?
Ostersund and Mexico City differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,776 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Ostersund compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $2,664 in Ostersund and $2,489 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Ostersund and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $844 in Ostersund versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ostersund and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 290% less than in Ostersund. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ostersund and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $131 in Ostersund versus $465 in Mexico City. 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 $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,776 in Ostersund, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Ostersund. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ostersund and Mexico City?
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 Ostersund or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ostersund and Mexico City 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: Ostersund or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Ostersund. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.