Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bayan Lepas and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Bayan Lepas: $735 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $10,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Bayan Lepas, Malaysia
Mexico City, Mexico
Bayan Lepas
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$735
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bayan Lepas and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bayan Lepas and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $735 in Bayan Lepas versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Bayan Lepas $735
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,214 in Bayan Lepas versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Bayan Lepas $1,214
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,694 in Bayan Lepas versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Bayan Lepas $1,694
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Bayan Lepas costs roughly 54% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Bayan Lepas is 46% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.97 MYR 12.05
$10.62 MX$200
-72.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.85 MYR 68.3
$48.35 MX$909
-65.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.09 MYR 16.57
$10.35 MX$194
-60.48%
Cappuccino
$2.81 MYR 11.39
$3.69 MX$69.4
-23.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 MYR 3.42
$1.67 MX$31.32
-49.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 MYR 2.22
$1.27 MX$23.78
-56.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.78 MYR 19.36
$3.19 MX$60.0
49.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 MYR 20.04
$5.31 MX$99.7
-6.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.56 MYR 10.39
$1.72 MX$32.41
48.84%
White Bread (500g)
$0.97 MYR 3.92
$3.04 MX$57.1
-68.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 MYR 3.61
$1.94 MX$36.48
-54.12%
Eggs
$2.05 MYR 8.31
$2.89 MX$54.3
-29.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
-
$10.97 MX$206
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.47 MYR 14.08
$9.25 MX$174
-62.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.91 MYR 28.02
$15.13 MX$284
-54.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 MYR 12.60
$3.05 MX$57.3
1.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 MYR 6.43
$1.94 MX$36.48
-18.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.08 MYR 12.50
$2.03 MX$38.06
51.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 MYR 4.77
$2.31 MX$43.50
-48.92%
Potato (1kg)
$1.30 MYR 5.29
$2.04 MX$38.25
-36.27%
Onion (1kg)
$1.20 MYR 4.88
$1.80 MX$33.83
-33.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 MYR 3.11
$1.48 MX$27.80
-47.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 MYR 2.73
$1.27 MX$23.82
-47.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.09 MYR 20.62
$5.30 MX$99.7
-3.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.20 MYR 77.9
$16.10 MX$303
19.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.98 MX$37.27
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.25 MX$79.9
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 MYR 2.58
$0.31 MX$5.73
106.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.76 MYR 59.8
$19.73 MX$371
-25.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.56 MYR 6.32
$1.84 MX$34.53
-15.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.53 MX$10.03
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$5.30 MX$99.5
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 MYR 3.11
$1.51 MX$28.39
-49.01%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$21.8K MX$408.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$24.0K MX$450.8K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.53 MYR 99.4
$63.0 MX$1,184
-61.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.64 MYR 47.20
$27.39 MX$515
-57.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.20 MYR 126
$35.67 MX$670
-12.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.63 MYR 120
$58.9 MX$1,108
-49.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.39 MYR 29.95
$23.64 MX$444
-68.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.83 MYR 19.56
$6.40 MX$120
-24.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
-
$432 MX$8,111
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$11.4K MX$214.7K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.33 MYR 159
$68.2 MX$1,282
-42.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.27 MYR 107
$53.1 MX$999
-50.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.0 MYR 259
$108 MX$2,026
-40.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7 MYR 327
$117 MX$2,204
-31.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$197 MYR 800
$1,113 MX$20.9K
-82.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$221 MYR 898
$710 MX$13.4K
-68.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$496 MYR 2,012
$2,588 MX$48.6K
-80.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$568 MYR 2,304
$1,406 MX$26.4K
-59.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,631 MX$68.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$2,135 MX$40.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bayan Lepas
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$965 MYR 3,911
$946 MX$17.8K
1.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.5
11.35
-69.16%

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

Last update for Bayan Lepas: October 26, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bayan Lepas
$221
Mexico City
$710 221% $489
Groceries & Markets
Bayan Lepas
$184 *
Mexico City
$320 73.4% $135
Eating Out
Bayan Lepas
$109
Mexico City
$199 82.1% $90
Clothing & Footwear
Bayan Lepas
$95
Mexico City
$156 64.7% $61
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bayan Lepas
$67
Mexico City
$126 87.1% $59
Sport & Entertainment
Bayan Lepas
$39
Mexico City
$72 82.6% $32
Getting Around
Bayan Lepas
$19 *
Mexico City
$25 35% $6.6

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Bayan Lepas and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $17 in Bayan Lepas vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $320 per month, with Bayan Lepas cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Bayan Lepas
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
23:05 11:05 PM
09:05 9:05 AM
14 h behind Bayan Lepas
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
217,600
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 4.05 MYR (1 MYR = 0.247 USD). 1 EUR = 4.52 MYR (1 MYR = 0.221 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bayan Lepas Mexico City 16,540 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bayan Lepas
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Bayan Lepas vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Bayan Lepas and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $735 in Bayan Lepas and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Bayan Lepas is about 54% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Bayan Lepas compared to Mexico City?
You’d need roughly $1,102 in Bayan Lepas and $2,412 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 Bayan Lepas and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $197 in Bayan Lepas versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Bayan Lepas – a meal for two runs $17 versus $48 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How do commuting costs compare in Bayan Lepas and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Bayan Lepas runs roughly 25% less than in Mexico City. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $735 in Bayan Lepas versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,200 budget is realistic in Bayan Lepas but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Bayan Lepas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Bayan Lepas 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.
Where should expats move: Bayan Lepas or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Bayan Lepas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bayan Lepas vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?