🙂A single person spends $847 per month in Gili Air vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,486 per month in Gili Air vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,126 per month in Gili Air vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Gili Air is about 41% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Gili Air sits 37% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.94Rp 34.8K
$12.98MX$223
-85.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.51Rp 313.7K
$52.6MX$903
-66.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.63Rp 47.1K
$9.43MX$162
-72.11%
Cappuccino
$1.48Rp 26.5K
$3.57MX$61.3
-58.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$1.61MX$27.55
-56.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,213
$1.15MX$19.81
-65.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$3.15MX$54.0
-48.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07Rp 37.1K
$4.86MX$83.4
-57.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24Rp 22.2K
$1.70MX$29.17
-27.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82Rp 32.6K
$2.64MX$45.23
-31.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86Rp 15.4K
$1.90MX$32.67
-54.74%
Eggs
$1.77Rp 31.7K
$2.54MX$43.62
-30.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.58Rp 189.5K
$10.08MX$173
4.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12Rp 55.9K
$8.29MX$142
-62.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.63Rp 154.7K
$11.57MX$199
-25.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63Rp 47.2K
$3.03MX$52.0
-13.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.71MX$29.35
-35.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.6K
$2.05MX$35.16
-2.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.61Rp 28.9K
$2.06MX$35.36
-21.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.4K
$2.06MX$35.43
-31.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65Rp 29.6K
$2.17MX$37.25
-23.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71Rp 12.8K
$1.40MX$24.08
-49.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,239
$1.12MX$19.26
-53.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25Rp 40.3K
$4.29MX$73.7
-47.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.39Rp 293.6K
$15.41MX$265
6.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98Rp 35.5K
$1.67MX$28.74
18.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.2K
$3.69MX$63.3
-45.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,752
$0.38MX$6.55
-44.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.72Rp 120.4K
$19.06MX$327
-64.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.37Rp 6,610
$1.38MX$23.70
-73.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,548
$0.28MX$4.74
32.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.87Rp 87.2K
$5.42MX$92.9
-10.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$1.28MX$21.98
-46.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 372.1M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
9.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRp 457.2M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
8.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.4Rp 1.1M
$41.02MX$704
54.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.20Rp 57.4K
$26.92MX$462
-88.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 348.3K
$29.69MX$510
-34.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.8Rp 999.2K
$52.3MX$898
6.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.85Rp 68.9K
$26.23MX$450
-85.32%
Cinema Ticket
$2.32Rp 41.6K
$6.18MX$106
-62.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$202Rp 3.6M
$427MX$7,331
-52.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,454Rp 79.8M
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-58.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23Rp 792.4K
$56.8MX$975
-22.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.05Rp 556.3K
$44.83MX$769
-30.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0Rp 1.3M
$105MX$1,794
-31.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.6Rp 1.1M
$106MX$1,819
-40.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$478Rp 8.6M
$995MX$17.1K
-51.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$320Rp 5.7M
$621MX$10.7K
-48.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,597Rp 28.6M
$2,126MX$36.5K
-24.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$973Rp 17.4M
$1,254MX$21.5K
-22.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,323Rp 23.7M
$3,903MX$67.0K
-66.10%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,060Rp 19.0M
$2,096MX$36.0K
-49.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Air
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11.34
17.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gili Air: June 8, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $478 in Gili Air versus $995 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 $18.00 in Gili Air versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $213 vs $288 – 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 71%, 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 $1,270 per month in Gili Air and $2,171 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 vs Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $847 in Gili Air and $1,447 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 184% less in Gili Air. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gili Air or Mexico City?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gili Air, where all-in costs run around $847, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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.