Lima vs Mexico City: Cost, Visas & Safety
Living in Lima vs Mexico City: Lima runs about $1,340/mo all-in vs $1,450/mo in Mexico City — Lima is cheaper. See visas, safety, internet, and climate…
Lima is the cheaper base — roughly $110/mo less all-in, both feel similarly safe, and internet is comparable in both. Which one wins depends on your income, passport, and what you value most.
How they compare
- Cost of living: Lima is about $110/mo cheaper — $1,340/mo all-in vs $1,450/mo in Mexico City (one person).
- Rent: lower in Lima ($700/mo vs $800/mo for a typical place).
- Safety: closely matched (62/100 vs 58/100).
- Internet: both solid for remote work (72/100 vs 70/100).
- Climate: Mexico City edges ahead (70/100 vs 82/100).
- Visa: easier to move to Lima — Lima's process is rated Easy, Mexico City's Moderate.
- Retirement/long-stay: both have options — Lima via the Peru Rentista Visa, Mexico City via the Mexico Temporary Resident Visa.
- Expat community: larger and more established in Mexico City (74/100 vs 82/100).
- Families: Lima rates safer for family life (64/100 vs 50/100 family safety).
- Local salaries: higher in Mexico City (~$1,300/mo vs ~$850/mo average) — relevant if you'd work locally rather than remotely.
- Sunshine: Mexico City logs about 285 sunny days a year vs 140 in Lima.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lima or Mexico City cheaper to live in?
Lima costs about $1,340/month all-in for one person; Mexico City costs about $1,450/month. That makes Lima roughly $110/mo cheaper, though rent, food, and lifestyle choices shift the total.
How much cheaper is Lima than Mexico City?
About $110/month for a single person — $1,340/mo in Lima vs $1,450/mo in Mexico City, covering rent, food, transport, healthcare, utilities, and everyday extras.
Which is safer, Lima or Mexico City?
They're closely matched — 62/100 for Lima and 58/100 for Mexico City. Neighbourhood choice matters more than the city here.
Which is better for remote work and digital nomads, Lima or Mexico City?
For connectivity, both are solid (72/100 vs 70/100). On climate, Mexico City edges ahead (70/100 vs 82/100). Jonzy scores both against your income, passport, and priorities so you see which fits your setup.
Which is easier to get a visa for, Lima or Mexico City?
Lima's visa process is rated Easy (about 2 weeks); Mexico City's is rated Moderate (about 6 weeks). Your passport changes the answer — run a visa check for both in Jonzy.
Can I compare Lima and Mexico City for my situation?
Yes, open Jonzy, enter your income and passport, and get personalised Life Upgrade Scores for both cities. You can also share a side-by-side comparison link with a partner.