🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $997 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,737 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,477 in Gili Trawangan versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Gili Trawangan costs roughly 32% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gili Trawangan is 26% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.41Rp 43.7K
$13.18MX$230
-81.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.45Rp 389.6K
$53.9MX$941
-60.20%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36Rp 61.0K
$9.42MX$165
-64.33%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.8K
$3.55MX$62.0
-49.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92Rp 16.7K
$1.62MX$28.26
-43.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,987
$1.11MX$19.46
-55.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96Rp 35.6K
$3.12MX$54.5
-37.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65Rp 48.1K
$4.63MX$80.9
-42.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36Rp 24.7K
$1.70MX$29.72
-20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.85Rp 33.6K
$2.72MX$47.48
-31.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 17.1K
$1.91MX$33.40
-50.79%
Eggs
$1.87Rp 34.0K
$2.54MX$44.30
-26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.07Rp 201.0K
$10.03MX$175
10.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.30Rp 60.0K
$8.09MX$141
-59.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.94Rp 162.4K
$11.62MX$203
-23.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91Rp 52.8K
$2.97MX$51.8
-2.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19Rp 21.7K
$1.81MX$31.55
-34.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15Rp 39.0K
$2.01MX$35.17
6.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.2K
$2.03MX$35.54
-15.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.3K
$2.12MX$37.11
-29.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67Rp 30.4K
$2.27MX$39.64
-26.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$1.40MX$24.46
-45.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.8K
$1.13MX$19.74
-47.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.7K
$4.27MX$74.6
-40.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.84Rp 324.1K
$15.56MX$272
14.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.14Rp 38.8K
$1.76MX$30.69
21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08Rp 37.8K
$3.60MX$62.8
-42.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23Rp 4,172
$0.38MX$6.69
-39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.93Rp 125.9K
$19.18MX$335
-63.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.38Rp 6,985
$1.38MX$24.03
-72.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 7,012
$0.28MX$4.83
39.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25Rp 95.3K
$5.45MX$95.2
-3.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.6K
$1.30MX$22.78
-46.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9KRp 397.0M
$18.7KMX$326.4K
16.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0KRp 490.8M
$23.1KMX$404.1K
16.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.3Rp 1.2M
$40.86MX$714
64.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.41Rp 61.9K
$26.81MX$468
-87.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.24Rp 367.6K
$29.96MX$523
-32.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$67.5Rp 1.2M
$52.0MX$909
29.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.55Rp 82.7K
$26.84MX$469
-83.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85Rp 51.8K
$6.30MX$110
-54.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217Rp 3.9M
$436MX$7,619
-50.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,856Rp 88.2M
$10.4KMX$182.0K
-53.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.55Rp 863.7K
$56.7MX$990
-16.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.76Rp 595.1K
$44.38MX$775
-26.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.1Rp 1.4M
$103MX$1,798
-26.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5Rp 1.2M
$106MX$1,843
-36.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$607Rp 11.0M
$1,022MX$17.9K
-40.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407Rp 7.4M
$631MX$11.0K
-35.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,044Rp 37.1M
$2,136MX$37.3K
-4.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,260Rp 22.9M
$1,243MX$21.7K
1.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,665Rp 30.2M
$3,903MX$68.2K
-57.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,381Rp 25.1M
$2,064MX$36.1K
-33.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,115MX$19.5K
-
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 Trawangan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $607 in Gili Trawangan and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Gili Trawangan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $288 per month, with Gili Trawangan 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
Gili Trawangan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Gili Trawangan?
Gili Trawangan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,495 in Gili Trawangan and $2,201 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 Gili Trawangan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $607 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Gili Trawangan and Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 27% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Gili Trawangan or Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Gili Trawangan – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gili Trawangan or Mexico City?
At $997 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gili Trawangan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Gili Trawangan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gili Trawangan or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Gili Trawangan 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 safer, Gili Trawangan or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Gili Trawangan 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gili Trawangan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Gili Trawangan vs other spots: cost of living compared