Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Air and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Gili Air and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$1.78 Rp 31.8K
$11.92 MX$205
-85.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.41 Rp 365.6K
$52.4 MX$901
-61.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.91 Rp 52.1K
$10.58 MX$182
-72.50%
Cappuccino
$1.41 Rp 25.3K
$3.90 MX$67.0
-63.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$1.69 MX$29.01
-47.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,943
$1.32 MX$22.77
-70.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.44 Rp 25.7K
$3.29 MX$56.5
-56.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$5.63 MX$96.8
-60.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.12 Rp 20.1K
$1.78 MX$30.63
-37.08%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 Rp 29.1K
$3.11 MX$53.5
-47.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.74 Rp 13.3K
$2.06 MX$35.40
-64.08%
Eggs
$1.49 Rp 26.6K
$3.02 MX$51.9
-50.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.60 Rp 225.7K
$12.73 MX$219
-1.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.7K
$9.86 MX$170
-71.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.57 Rp 153.5K
$15.60 MX$268
-45.06%
Apples (1kg)
$2.61 Rp 46.7K
$3.41 MX$58.7
-23.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.6K
$2.01 MX$34.60
-42.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 Rp 29.8K
$2.09 MX$35.92
-20.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$2.38 MX$40.85
-42.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$2.11 MX$36.31
-39.81%
Onion (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.2K
$1.86 MX$31.99
-15.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$1.55 MX$26.64
-52.90%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,616
$1.33 MX$22.89
-72.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
$5.35 MX$91.9
-70.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.71 Rp 299.4K
$17.21 MX$296
-2.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.69 Rp 30.2K
$2.02 MX$34.72
-16.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94 Rp 34.8K
$4.73 MX$81.3
-58.99%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.22 Rp 3,936
$0.37 MX$6.32
-40.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.72 Rp 120.4K
$20.51 MX$353
-67.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.36 Rp 6,383
$1.99 MX$34.28
-81.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,733
$0.55 MX$9.53
-30.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.83 Rp 86.5K
$5.64 MX$97.1
-14.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
$1.53 MX$26.35
-58.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K Rp 347.6M
$22.7K MX$390.8K
-14.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K Rp 449.3M
$26.2K MX$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)
$66.1 Rp 1.2M
$65.7 MX$1,129
0.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.05 Rp 90.5K
$30.37 MX$522
-83.37%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.94 Rp 267.6K
$35.54 MX$611
-57.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.28 Rp 578.2K
$57.0 MX$980
-43.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.73 Rp 192.1K
$26.18 MX$450
-59.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.50 Rp 44.8K
$6.75 MX$116
-62.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$328 Rp 5.9M
$449 MX$7,719
-26.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,952 Rp 70.8M
$13.4K MX$229.7K
-70.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.33 Rp 650.9K
$73.5 MX$1,263
-50.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.07 Rp 502.9K
$53.9 MX$927
-47.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$64.2 Rp 1.1M
$111 MX$1,909
-42.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.2 Rp 1.1M
$122 MX$2,098
-47.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$532 Rp 9.5M
$1,090 MX$18.7K
-51.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$323 Rp 5.8M
$701 MX$12.1K
-53.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,730 Rp 31.0M
$2,469 MX$42.5K
-29.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$816 Rp 14.6M
$1,295 MX$22.3K
-36.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,350 Rp 24.2M
$3,904 MX$67.2K
-65.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,066 Rp 19.1M
$2,117 MX$36.4K
-49.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,081 MX$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.

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