Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,682 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali versus $2,599 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,128 in Denpasar, Bali versus $3,516 in Mexico City.

Living in Denpasar, Bali costs roughly 46% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Denpasar, Bali is 34% below, Mexico City is 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.22 Rp 39.5K
$11.83 MX$200
-81.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.63 Rp 455.6K
$52.2 MX$884
-50.85%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.59 Rp 63.8K
$10.87 MX$184
-66.97%
Cappuccino
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$4.03 MX$68.2
-56.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12 Rp 20.0K
$1.71 MX$28.99
-34.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,553
$1.34 MX$22.70
-64.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 Rp 31.2K
$3.39 MX$57.5
-48.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 50.5K
$5.74 MX$97.3
-50.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.30 Rp 23.2K
$1.89 MX$31.99
-31.22%
White Bread (500g)
$1.85 Rp 32.9K
$3.17 MX$53.8
-41.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
$2.05 MX$34.74
-59.02%
Eggs
$1.75 Rp 31.1K
$3.01 MX$51.1
-41.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.26 Rp 253.5K
$12.61 MX$214
13.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.24 Rp 57.7K
$9.94 MX$169
-67.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.77 Rp 173.6K
$16.00 MX$271
-38.94%
Apples (1kg)
$2.90 Rp 51.5K
$3.28 MX$55.6
-11.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 23.1K
$2.06 MX$34.87
-36.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.84 Rp 32.7K
$2.09 MX$35.36
-11.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 Rp 29.3K
$2.50 MX$42.44
-34.00%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 26.9K
$2.05 MX$34.76
-26.34%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 Rp 31.4K
$1.87 MX$31.70
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.83 Rp 14.8K
$1.57 MX$26.66
-47.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,424
$1.39 MX$23.64
-69.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.85 Rp 32.9K
$5.38 MX$91.2
-65.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.92 Rp 336.4K
$17.95 MX$304
5.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92 Rp 34.2K
$2.02 MX$34.31
-4.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 41.4K
$4.76 MX$80.7
-51.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 Rp 3,885
$0.36 MX$6.13
-38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.41 Rp 131.8K
$20.80 MX$353
-64.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,587
$2.06 MX$34.92
-79.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,594
$0.56 MX$9.55
-23.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.03 Rp 53.9K
$5.82 MX$98.6
-47.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.67 Rp 12.0K
$1.54 MX$26.05
-56.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K Rp 393.7M
$22.5K MX$380.6K
-1.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K Rp 501.8M
$26.5K MX$448.7K
6.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$73.5 Rp 1.3M
$66.0 MX$1,118
11.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.84 Rp 103.7K
$30.98 MX$525
-81.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.79 Rp 298.4K
$36.20 MX$613
-53.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.72 Rp 705.9K
$57.5 MX$975
-30.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.98 Rp 230.7K
$26.75 MX$453
-51.48%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14 Rp 55.8K
$7.13 MX$121
-55.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$382 Rp 6.8M
$457 MX$7,738
-16.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,482 Rp 79.7M
$13.2K MX$224.5K
-66.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.48 Rp 701.6K
$75.8 MX$1,285
-47.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.40 Rp 540.3K
$54.1 MX$917
-43.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.0 Rp 1.2M
$116 MX$1,974
-41.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5 Rp 1.2M
$122 MX$2,063
-44.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 Rp 10.6M
$1,147 MX$19.4K
-48.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$359 Rp 6.4M
$726 MX$12.3K
-50.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,828 Rp 32.5M
$2,503 MX$42.4K
-26.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$903 Rp 16.0M
$1,331 MX$22.6K
-32.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,460 Rp 25.9M
$3,895 MX$66.0K
-62.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,180 Rp 21.0M
$2,149 MX$36.4K
-45.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$276 Rp 4.9M
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-74.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
11.35
21.41%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $596 in Denpasar, Bali and $1,147 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 287% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $237 vs $344 per month, with Denpasar, Bali 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
Denpasar, Bali vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and in Mexico City?
Denpasar, Bali and Mexico City differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($904 vs $1,682 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 287% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $596 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,147 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,682 in Mexico City – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 181% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali 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.
Is Denpasar, Bali or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Mexico City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Denpasar, Bali or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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