😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,478 in Sala versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,218 in Sala versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,957 in Sala versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Monthly costs are close between Sala and Mexico City; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sala11% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.53SEK 119
$13.14MX$227
-4.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.7SEK 605
$53.5MX$926
19.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.20SEK 96.9
$9.33MX$161
9.32%
Cappuccino
$3.19SEK 30.28
$3.70MX$64.0
-13.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86SEK 17.70
$1.60MX$27.76
16.25%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39SEK 22.67
$1.12MX$19.34
113.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.42SEK 70.5
$3.14MX$54.3
136.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.24SEK 68.8
$4.85MX$83.9
49.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78SEK 16.87
$1.65MX$28.61
7.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.69SEK 25.53
$2.71MX$46.96
-0.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.63SEK 34.44
$1.91MX$33.03
90.05%
Eggs
$3.86SEK 36.68
$2.59MX$44.81
49.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.12SEK 115
$9.81MX$170
23.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.89SEK 113
$8.43MX$146
41.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.97SEK 152
$11.93MX$206
33.86%
Apples(1kg)
$3.14SEK 29.85
$2.95MX$51.1
6.44%
Banana(1kg)
$2.57SEK 24.45
$1.74MX$30.10
47.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.84SEK 27.01
$2.04MX$35.38
39.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.13SEK 48.74
$2.06MX$35.64
149.03%
Potato(1kg)
$1.56SEK 14.78
$2.15MX$37.20
-27.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.18SEK 11.17
$2.26MX$39.02
-47.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.71SEK 25.77
$1.39MX$23.97
94.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02SEK 9.71
$1.12MX$19.31
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.20SEK 68.4
$4.22MX$73.0
70.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.24SEK 59.3
$17.51MX$303
-64.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.50SEK 23.73
$1.71MX$29.58
46.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92SEK 18.28
$3.63MX$62.8
-47.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.25SEK 30.83
$0.35MX$6.10
828.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.30SEK 212
$19.32MX$334
15.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.15SEK 58.5
$1.38MX$23.80
345.65%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.58SEK 15.05
$0.28MX$4.77
464.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$21.29SEK 202
$5.28MX$91.3
303.22%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97SEK 18.69
$1.36MX$23.50
44.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4KSEK 393.5K
$19.1KMX$330.5K
116.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KSEK 328.1K
$23.6KMX$408.4K
46.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.6SEK 852
$40.53MX$701
121.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.17SEK 201
$27.38MX$474
-22.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.99SEK 351
$30.38MX$526
21.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.67SEK 462
$52.2MX$903
-6.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.31SEK 202
$26.48MX$458
-19.52%
Cinema Ticket
$18.75SEK 178
$6.19MX$107
202.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$148SEK 1,404
$425MX$7,355
-65.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,284SEK 12.2K
$10.7KMX$185.7K
-88.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.96SEK 437
$58.3MX$1,009
-21.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.96SEK 351
$44.57MX$771
-17.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.4SEK 517
$103MX$1,791
-47.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$58.4SEK 554
$109MX$1,881
-46.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764SEK 7,261
$1,014MX$17.5K
-24.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$531SEK 5,044
$623MX$10.8K
-14.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985SEK 9,354
$2,119MX$36.7K
-53.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$737SEK 7,002
$1,223MX$21.2K
-39.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,100SEK 38.9K
$3,792MX$65.6K
8.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,033SEK 28.8K
$2,110MX$36.5K
43.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sala
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,507SEK 23.8K
$1,052MX$18.2K
138.29%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.53
11.34
-60.05%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sala: July 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $764 in Sala and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sala pays 138% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Sala vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $293 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
Sala vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Sala or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 138% higher in Sala, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Sala and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $764 in Sala versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sala and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $148 in Sala versus $425 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $64.0 in Sala. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $1,478 in Sala, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Sala. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Sala 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 Sala or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Sala 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.
How do I decide between Sala and Mexico City?
It comes down to priorities – Mexico City wins on affordability, Sala on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.