🙂A single person spends $825 per month in Gili Air vs $1,656 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Gili Air vs $2,619 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,907 per month in Gili Air vs $3,581 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Gili Air is about 50% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Gili Air sits 39% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.78Rp 31.8K
$11.92MX$205
-85.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.41Rp 365.6K
$52.4MX$901
-61.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.91Rp 52.1K
$10.58MX$182
-72.50%
Cappuccino
$1.41Rp 25.3K
$3.90MX$67.0
-63.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$1.69MX$29.01
-47.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,943
$1.32MX$22.77
-70.45%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$3.29MX$56.5
-56.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21Rp 39.5K
$5.63MX$96.8
-60.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$1.78MX$30.63
-37.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.62Rp 29.1K
$3.11MX$53.5
-47.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.74Rp 13.3K
$2.06MX$35.40
-64.08%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.6K
$3.02MX$51.9
-50.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.60Rp 225.7K
$12.73MX$219
-1.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.7K
$9.86MX$170
-71.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.57Rp 153.5K
$15.60MX$268
-45.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.61Rp 46.7K
$3.41MX$58.7
-23.46%
Banana(1kg)
$1.15Rp 20.6K
$2.01MX$34.60
-42.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.66Rp 29.8K
$2.09MX$35.92
-20.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 24.4K
$2.38MX$40.85
-42.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$2.11MX$36.31
-39.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.2K
$1.86MX$31.99
-15.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73Rp 13.2K
$1.55MX$26.64
-52.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,616
$1.33MX$22.89
-72.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$5.35MX$91.9
-70.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.71Rp 299.4K
$17.21MX$296
-2.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69Rp 30.2K
$2.02MX$34.72
-16.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94Rp 34.8K
$4.73MX$81.3
-58.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22Rp 3,936
$0.37MX$6.32
-40.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.72Rp 120.4K
$20.51MX$353
-67.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.36Rp 6,383
$1.99MX$34.28
-81.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,733
$0.55MX$9.53
-30.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.83Rp 86.5K
$5.64MX$97.1
-14.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.53MX$26.35
-58.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KRp 347.6M
$22.7KMX$390.8K
-14.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1KRp 449.3M
$26.2KMX$450.8K
-4.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.1Rp 1.2M
$65.7MX$1,129
0.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.05Rp 90.5K
$30.37MX$522
-83.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.94Rp 267.6K
$35.54MX$611
-57.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.28Rp 578.2K
$57.0MX$980
-43.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73Rp 192.1K
$26.18MX$450
-59.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.50Rp 44.8K
$6.75MX$116
-62.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$328Rp 5.9M
$449MX$7,719
-26.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,952Rp 70.8M
$13.4KMX$229.7K
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.33Rp 650.9K
$73.5MX$1,263
-50.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.07Rp 502.9K
$53.9MX$927
-47.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$64.2Rp 1.1M
$111MX$1,909
-42.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2Rp 1.1M
$122MX$2,098
-47.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$532Rp 9.5M
$1,090MX$18.7K
-51.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$323Rp 5.8M
$701MX$12.1K
-53.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,730Rp 31.0M
$2,469MX$42.5K
-29.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$816Rp 14.6M
$1,295MX$22.3K
-36.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,350Rp 24.2M
$3,904MX$67.2K
-65.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,066Rp 19.1M
$2,117MX$36.4K
-49.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,081MX$18.6K
-
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 Gili Air: August 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $532 in Gili Air versus $1,090 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Gili Air versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $339 – making Gili Air the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Gili Air vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Gili Air?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 101%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,238 per month in Gili Air and $2,485 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Gili Air, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Gili Air and in Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $825 in Gili Air and $1,656 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 205% less in Gili Air. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Gili Air or in Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gili Air, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Mexico City at $1,656. In Gili Air it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Gili Air or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Gili Air – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Gili Air or Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Gili Air. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.