🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Binjai versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Binjai versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,380 in Binjai versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Binjai costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Binjai is 51% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 27.1K
$12.98MX$226
-87.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22Rp 211.0K
$53.1MX$923
-76.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.47Rp 59.9K
$9.72MX$169
-64.30%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 28.8K
$3.75MX$65.2
-55.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 8,957
$1.57MX$27.30
-66.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,475
$1.13MX$19.64
-76.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 43.4K
$3.18MX$55.3
-21.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56Rp 61.4K
$4.66MX$81.1
-23.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.1K
$1.62MX$28.21
-24.69%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 19.5K
$2.71MX$47.09
-58.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.2K
$1.88MX$32.70
-53.19%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 26.3K
$2.51MX$43.65
-39.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.10Rp 139.9K
$10.08MX$175
-19.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 54.1K
$8.29MX$144
-62.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.11Rp 140.0K
$11.94MX$208
-32.08%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36Rp 40.8K
$2.86MX$49.77
-17.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.0K
$1.75MX$30.45
-17.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.82Rp 31.4K
$2.08MX$36.27
-12.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 26.9K
$1.97MX$34.27
-20.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.5K
$2.16MX$37.58
-37.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 33.5K
$2.18MX$37.94
-11.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 15.8K
$1.39MX$24.20
-33.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,697
$1.12MX$19.57
-59.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51Rp 43.3K
$4.20MX$73.1
-40.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.98Rp 362.2K
$14.25MX$248
47.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 34.8K
$1.76MX$30.68
14.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Rp 53.1K
$3.68MX$64.1
-16.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,555
$0.39MX$6.71
-17.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.64Rp 166.5K
$18.66MX$325
-48.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 9,914
$1.39MX$24.12
-58.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 5,920
$0.30MX$5.29
13.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 51.0K
$5.42MX$94.3
-45.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.5K
$1.35MX$23.50
-37.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9KRp 430.4M
$18.9KMX$328.6K
32.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KRp 479.0M
$23.2KMX$402.8K
19.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9Rp 1.2M
$40.82MX$710
73.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37Rp 75.4K
$27.50MX$479
-84.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.73Rp 392.5K
$30.38MX$529
-25.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.86Rp 394.8K
$53.4MX$930
-57.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12Rp 105.6K
$26.30MX$458
-76.73%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 52.5K
$6.27MX$109
-51.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.6M
$436MX$7,588
-78.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,443Rp 128.5M
$10.5KMX$182.1K
-28.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.01Rp 708.0K
$56.8MX$988
-27.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.78Rp 531.4K
$44.79MX$779
-31.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6Rp 1.2M
$103MX$1,789
-35.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.3Rp 1.3M
$108MX$1,878
-32.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.4M
$1,000MX$17.4K
-74.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.7M
$620MX$10.8K
-74.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 9.9M
$2,137MX$37.2K
-73.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$329Rp 5.7M
$1,235MX$21.5K
-73.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,258Rp 21.7M
$3,865MX$67.3K
-67.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$858Rp 14.8M
$2,332MX$40.6K
-63.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,067MX$18.6K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
11.34
-19.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Binjai: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Binjai and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Binjai vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $286 per month, with Binjai 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
Binjai vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Binjai?
Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 126% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $985 in Binjai and $2,225 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.
What is the rent difference between Binjai and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Binjai versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Binjai vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Binjai versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 126% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 94% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Binjai or Mexico City?
At $656 in Binjai versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Binjai but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Binjai the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Binjai or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Binjai is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 126% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.