🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $674 in Binjai versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Binjai versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,363 in Binjai versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Binjai costs roughly 53% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Binjai is 50% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.53Rp 27.3K
$12.98MX$223
-88.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.52Rp 224.3K
$52.6MX$903
-76.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39Rp 60.8K
$9.43MX$162
-64.05%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 30.0K
$3.57MX$61.3
-53.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,916
$1.61MX$27.55
-65.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,036
$1.15MX$19.81
-75.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.51Rp 45.0K
$3.15MX$54.0
-20.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51Rp 62.9K
$4.86MX$83.4
-27.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 22.1K
$1.70MX$29.17
-27.65%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.3K
$2.64MX$45.23
-57.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$1.90MX$32.67
-53.16%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$2.54MX$43.62
-40.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.34Rp 149.5K
$10.08MX$173
-17.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.25Rp 58.3K
$8.29MX$142
-60.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.93Rp 142.1K
$11.57MX$199
-31.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.4K
$3.03MX$52.0
-21.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.1K
$1.71MX$29.35
-14.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.9K
$2.05MX$35.16
-7.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.0K
$2.06MX$35.36
-26.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$2.06MX$35.43
-35.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88Rp 33.7K
$2.17MX$37.25
-13.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.2K
$1.40MX$24.08
-35.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,380
$1.12MX$19.26
-63.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.2K
$4.29MX$73.7
-41.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.24Rp 362.6K
$15.41MX$265
31.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08Rp 37.3K
$1.67MX$28.74
24.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 54.8K
$3.69MX$63.3
-17.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,278
$0.38MX$6.55
-23.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.98Rp 178.8K
$19.06MX$327
-47.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$1.38MX$23.70
-59.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,252
$0.28MX$4.74
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.97Rp 53.1K
$5.42MX$92.9
-45.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.28MX$21.98
-35.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 437.2M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
28.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRp 497.3M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
18.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.6Rp 1.2M
$41.02MX$704
67.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$26.92MX$462
-83.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56Rp 404.3K
$29.69MX$510
-24.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.96Rp 411.4K
$52.3MX$898
-56.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.13Rp 109.9K
$26.23MX$450
-76.63%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$6.18MX$106
-49.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.2Rp 1.7M
$427MX$7,331
-77.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,473Rp 133.9M
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-30.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.89Rp 732.6K
$56.8MX$975
-28.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.93Rp 554.2K
$44.83MX$769
-31.01%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.8Rp 1.2M
$105MX$1,794
-36.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$106MX$1,819
-31.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$995MX$17.1K
-74.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$621MX$10.7K
-74.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577Rp 10.3M
$2,126MX$36.5K
-72.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$1,254MX$21.5K
-72.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,189Rp 21.3M
$3,903MX$67.0K
-69.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$611Rp 10.9M
$2,096MX$36.0K
-70.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Binjai
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Binjai and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $13.00 in Binjai vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $207 vs $288 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 115% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,011 in Binjai and $2,171 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: $258 in Binjai versus $995 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 $674 per month in Binjai versus $1,447 in Mexico City – a 115% 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 91% 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 $674 in Binjai versus $1,447 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 115% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.