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City comparison

Lima vs Mexico City

In short

Calculated from the figures below, with no overall “who wins” score.

  • Rent

    in Lima cheaper — −14%

  • Family budget

    in Lima cheaper — −39%

  • Health insurance

    in Lima cheaper — −68%

In numbers

Exchange rate as of the date each figure was checked.

  • House or apartment rent

    per month
    Lima≈ $734–1,270S/ 2,509–4,345
    cheaper by 14%
    Mexico City≈ $854–1,470MX$15,386–26,435
  • Family groceries

    per month
    Lima≈ $359S/ 1,228
    cheaper by 37%
    Mexico City≈ $569MX$10,250
  • Family budget

    per month
    Lima≈ $665S/ 2,272
    cheaper by 39%
    Mexico City≈ $1,090MX$19,621
  • Internet

    per month
    Lima≈ $29–41S/ 99–139
    cheaper by 30%
    Mexico City≈ $22–78MX$389–1,399
  • Private school

    per month
    Lima≈ $468–1,290S/ 1,600–4,426
    Mexico City≈ $222–832MX$4,000 – 15k
    cheaper by 40%
  • Health insurance

    per month
    Lima≈ $11–34S/ 39–115
    cheaper by 68%
    Mexico City≈ $41–98MX$742–1,775
  • Winter

    average
    Lima15–18 °C15–18 °C
    Mexico City6–21 °C6–21 °C
  • Precipitation

    per year
    Lima13 mm13 mm
    Mexico City816 mm816 mm
  • Ready-made house

    purchase
    Lima$151k – 260,500$151k – 260,500
    Mexico City≈ $190kMX$3.42M
    cheaper by 8%

By topic

A quick look at each city. Details and sources are on the city page.

Housing

Lima

Rent by district

A 100 m² three-bedroom apartment: Barranco 4345 soles a month, San Isidro 4182, Miraflores 3864, Surco 3070, La Molina 2509 (July 2026).

SpecialistInfobae: Urbania Index, apartment rents by district of Lima, July 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Buying an apartment

Apartment price per m²: San Isidro 2605 dollars, Barranco 2556, Miraflores 2464, Surco 1818, La Molina 1510 (Q1 2026, central bank BCRP).

OfficialBCRP: apartment sale prices by district of Lima, dollars per m², Q1 2025 - Q1 2026 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Lima →

Mexico City

Rent for a two-bedroom by alcaldía

Two-bedroom: Cuauhtémoc (Roma, Condesa) 26.4k pesos, Miguel Hidalgo (Polanco) 26.4k, Benito Juárez (Del Valle, Narvarte) 19.4k, Coyoacán 15.4k. Data from October 2025.

SpecialistInmuebles24: Mexico City sales and rental index, October 2025 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Rent by colonia

Two-bedroom, agency estimates: Condesa 18–28k pesos, Roma 16–25, Polanco 25–45, Del Valle 12–20, Narvarte 10–16, Coyoacán 11–18. The estimate is approximate.

SpecialistHolaNeo: best neighborhoods for renting in Mexico City, 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Buying: a typical two-bedroom

A typical 65 m² two-bedroom in Mexico City costs 3.42 million pesos, a 100 m² three-bedroom 4.64 million. By alcaldía, a square metre runs from 37.8k (Coyoacán) to 68.5k (Polanco). October 2025.

SpecialistInmuebles24: Mexico City sales and rental index, October 2025 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Price per metre: Del Valle and Narvarte

Ready-built apartments in Del Valle are about 52.8k pesos per m², in Narvarte about 53.2k. One portal lists new builds in Del Valle Centro at 91k. Agency surveys.

SpecialistHome del Valle: prices per square meter in Del Valle, September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about housing in Mexico City →

Money and prices

Lima

Groceries for a family

The INEI minimum food basket for Lima is 307 soles per person a month, about 1228 for a family of four. Figures for 2025.

OfficialINEI: Perú, evolución de la pobreza monetaria 2016-2025 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Family budget per month

A family of four in Lima counts as poor at spending below 2272 soles a month. The average Lima resident spends 1014 soles, about 4056 for four.

OfficialINEI: Perú, evolución de la pobreza monetaria 2016-2025 · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about money and prices in Lima →

Mexico City

Groceries for a family

The INEGI food basket for cities is 2,562.58 pesos per person a month, 10,250 for a family of four (August 2026). It is a minimum of food, not an actual receipt.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 30 Sep 2026

Family budget per month

The INEGI poverty line for cities is 4,905.33 pesos per person, 19,621 a month for a family of four (August 2026). It is a lower threshold without rent, not a real budget.

OfficialINEGI: income poverty lines, August 2026 (bulletin 592/26) · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about money and prices in Mexico City →

Family and kids

Lima

Private schools

Well-known private schools in Lima for 2026: 1600–4426 soles a month plus an entrance fee. The American School Roosevelt: from 1747 dollars a month.

SpecialistInfobae: cost of private schools in Lima for 2026 based on the list by Padres magazine · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about family and kids in Lima →

Mexico City

Private schools and kindergartens

A private school in Mexico City is most often 4,000–15,000 pesos a month, international ones from 25,000. One school as an example: kindergarten 3,620, primary 4,110 a month. Plus an entry fee.

SpecialistMicole: how much a private school costs in Mexico City · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about family and kids in Mexico City →

Healthcare

Lima

Healthcare: public insurance

With a foreigner's card (carné de extranjería), a family can take the public insurance SIS Independiente: 39 soles a month for one person, 115 for a family of four or more. There is also a free plan.

OfficialSIS: questions and rates of the SIS Independiente plan · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Lima →

Mexico City

Healthcare: IMSS insurance

Voluntary IMSS insurance costs 8,900–21,300 pesos a year per person (742 to 1,775 a month). These are 2025 rates; for 2026 the press reports 9,300–22,150.

OfficialIMSS: Seguro de Salud para la Familia, voluntary insurance · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about healthcare in Mexico City →

Transport

Lima

Jorge Chávez Airport

The new terminal opened on 30 May 2025: 30 million passengers in the first year, up to 40 million by 2026. The first flights were LATAM to Atlanta and Iberia from Madrid.

OfficialMTC: opening of the new terminal at Jorge Chávez airport · checked 29 Sep 2026

Getting around the city

The Metropolitano with a feeder route across the whole city is 3.50 soles; short trips on corridor buses are 1–1.50. The second metro line is free for now.

OfficialATU: how to save money on the Metropolitano and corridor buses · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Lima →

Mexico City

Getting around the city

Metro 5 pesos, Metrobús 6, the Metrobús airport line 30. The authorities confirmed that in 2026 the metro stays at 5. Minibuses were allowed to raise their fare by 1.5 pesos in 2025.

OfficialMexico City portal: how to ride the Metro and Metrobús, fares · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about transport in Mexico City →

Climate

Lima

Winter

The coldest month is August: average minimum 14.6 degrees, maximum 18.4. July and September are almost the same; in February it is 19.4 and 26.5.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Lima · checked 29 Sep 2026

Precipitation and seasonality

There is almost no rain: about 13 mm a year, and no month above 5.4 mm. In winter, instead of rain there is garúa drizzle, which wets the streets but barely shows up in millimetres.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Lima · checked 29 Sep 2026

Humidity and grey skies

In winter humidity is above 90% and reaches 99%: fog, garúa drizzle, dense cloud cover by the sea. Because of the dampness, 15 degrees feels like 13–14.

SpecialistAndina: winter 2025 in Lima, SENAMHI forecast for temperature and humidity · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Lima →

Mexico City

Winter

January, the coldest month: on average 5.8 degrees at night, 21.2 in the day. No snow, but the nights are cold, and homes usually have no heating.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Mexico City · checked 30 Sep 2026

Rainfall and seasonality

About 816 mm a year, almost all of it from June to September (135–175 mm a month). From November to March it is nearly dry: 4–12 mm a month. Series 1951–1980.

OfficialWMO, World Weather Information Service: climate normals for Mexico City · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about climate in Mexico City →

Nature

Lima

Nothing yet

Mexico City

Air quality

In 2023 there were 120 clean days out of 365 (all substances within the norm); the other 245 had poor air. Worst from March to June. The 2025 dry season had five ozone alerts.

OfficialSEDEMA: annual air quality report for Mexico City for 2023 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about nature in Mexico City →

Safety

Lima

Crime by zone

In 2025, 27.6% of Lima residents aged over 15 were victims of crime. In the zone with Miraflores and San Isidro it was 21.5%, in the east with La Molina 31.3%.

OfficialINEI: Victimización en el Perú 2025, ENAPRES survey · checked 29 Sep 2026

Earthquakes

The IGP geophysical institute expects an earthquake stronger than M8.8 near Lima with a tsunami above 8 m. The last one like that was in 1746; when the next will come is unknown.

OfficialIGP: the 1746 earthquake and the expected seismic scenario for Lima · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Lima →

Mexico City

Crime by alcaldía

Serious crimes per 100k residents, 2025: Cuauhtémoc 616, Miguel Hidalgo 324, Benito Juárez 311, Coyoacán 295. City-wide 274, nationwide 221.

SpecialistConsejo Ciudadano CDMX: high-impact crimes by alcaldía, 2025 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Earthquakes and ground

Roma, Condesa and Centro stand on lake-bed ground: shaking there can be up to 50 times stronger. The 2017 earthquake (magnitude 7.1): 228 dead according to Expansión.

OfficialSSN: report on the earthquake of 19 September 2017, Puebla-Morelos, magnitude 7.1 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about safety in Mexico City →

Internet and phone

Lima

Internet for remote work

WIN fibre in Lima: 500 Mbit/s for 99 soles a month, 850 for 119, 1000 for 139. The line is symmetric, traffic is unlimited, and the first month is cheaper.

SpecialistWIN: home fiber-optic internet plans for Lima and Callao · checked 29 Sep 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Lima →

Mexico City

Internet speed

Telmex sells home internet from 120 to 1000 Mbps. Up to 350 Mbps download and upload are the same; on the higher plans upload is lower. Totalplay starts at 100 Mbps.

SpecialistTelmex: Infinitum home packages, valid until 30 September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Internet per month

From 389 pesos for 120 Mbps to 1399 for a gigabit at Telmex, taxes included. Totalplay is 390 for 100 Mbps. The plan includes calls within Mexico, the US and Canada.

SpecialistTelmex: Infinitum home packages, valid until 30 September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about internet and phone service in Mexico City →

Services

Lima

Electricity tariff

Luz del Sur from August 2026: 75.56 centimos per kWh for consumption above 140 kWh and 2.66 soles a month. For 300 kWh the bill comes to about 229 soles.

OfficialLuz del Sur: electricity tariffs including IGV, pliego of 4 August 2026 (document “Tarifas - Setiembre 2026”) · checked 29 Sep 2026

Water and sewerage Sedapal

Water and sewerage: the first 10 m³ at 3.58 soles, more after that. A bill for 15 m³ is about 72 soles with IGV tax; this is a calculation based on the Sedapal tariff.

OfficialSunass: resolution 00145-2025-SUNASS-CD, Sedapal tariff structure for year 5 of the 2022-2027 period · checked 30 Sep 2026

Piped gas Cálidda

Piped gas from Cálidda, September 2026: about 1.73 soles per m³ with tax and 1.29 soles a month. For 30 m³ it comes to about 53 soles. The network is not available everywhere.

OfficialCálidda: tariff table for piped gas in Lima and Callao, service for September 2026 (Osinergmin) · checked 30 Sep 2026

Everything about services in Lima →

Mexico City

Electricity: CFE tariff

Tariff 1 for June 2026: 1.125 pesos per kWh up to 75 kWh, 1.369 for the next 65, then 4.004. Above 140 kWh the price almost quadruples. Plus 16% VAT.

SpecialistUnoTV: CFE home tariffs for June 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Water: the Cutzamala system

The Cutzamala system supplies about a quarter of the valley's water. As of 23 September 2026 it is 86% full; in April it was 52%. The shortfall by city district has not been established.

SpecialistExpansión: Cutzamala System fill level as of 17 September 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

LP gas: price cap

Price cap for liquefied LP gas (CNE) in Mexico City for 27.09–3.10.2026: 20.10 pesos per kg, 10.85 per litre. A 20 kg cylinder at the cap is about 402 pesos.

OfficialComisión Nacional de Energía: maximum LP gas prices from 27 September to 3 October 2026 · checked 30 Sep 2026

Water: SACMEX tariff

The water bill comes once every two months, the price per m³ rises in steps and depends on the neighbourhood's development index: a subsidy of up to 91% in poor areas, about 60% in rich ones. We did not find the price in pesos.

SpecialistGrupo Animal: water tariffs and payment in Mexico City, how the tariff works under the Código Fiscal · checked 30 Sep 2026

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