🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $970 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,619 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,268 in Gili Trawangan versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Gili Trawangan costs roughly 42% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gili Trawangan is 30% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.29Rp 40.4K
$12.14MX$205
-81.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.20Rp 426.2K
$53.9MX$911
-55.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80Rp 66.8K
$11.09MX$187
-65.73%
Cappuccino
$1.78Rp 31.3K
$4.10MX$69.3
-56.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22Rp 21.4K
$1.68MX$28.44
-27.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53Rp 9,330
$1.39MX$23.47
-61.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96Rp 34.6K
$3.33MX$56.3
-41.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96Rp 52.1K
$5.88MX$99.4
-49.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.7K
$1.85MX$31.30
-33.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.71Rp 30.1K
$3.17MX$53.6
-46.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.6K
$2.07MX$35.01
-59.90%
Eggs
$1.61Rp 28.3K
$2.93MX$49.51
-45.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.40Rp 236.0K
$12.59MX$213
6.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 54.2K
$10.11MX$171
-69.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.12Rp 160.6K
$16.09MX$272
-43.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.73Rp 48.1K
$3.39MX$57.3
-19.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24Rp 21.8K
$2.08MX$35.14
-40.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79Rp 31.6K
$2.12MX$35.85
-15.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.5K
$2.41MX$40.82
-35.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.5K
$2.13MX$36.00
-31.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.7K
$2.01MX$33.90
-7.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.80Rp 14.1K
$1.55MX$26.13
-48.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,814
$1.36MX$23.08
-71.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69Rp 29.8K
$5.77MX$97.5
-70.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.38Rp 306.1K
$17.74MX$300
-2.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76Rp 31.0K
$2.07MX$35.00
-14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24Rp 39.5K
$4.61MX$78.0
-51.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,698
$0.37MX$6.19
-43.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.10Rp 125.0K
$21.18MX$358
-66.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rp 7,291
$2.05MX$34.73
-80.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.40Rp 7,096
$0.58MX$9.75
-31.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.19Rp 91.3K
$6.07MX$103
-14.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$1.55MX$26.25
-56.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 372.9M
$22.9KMX$386.8K
-7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KRp 468.7M
$27.2KMX$460.5K
-2.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$71.3Rp 1.3M
$67.4MX$1,140
5.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.47Rp 96.4K
$30.62MX$518
-82.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.78Rp 278.0K
$37.24MX$630
-57.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.33Rp 710.4K
$61.5MX$1,039
-34.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84Rp 226.2K
$27.12MX$459
-52.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.17Rp 55.8K
$7.11MX$120
-55.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$353Rp 6.2M
$456MX$7,714
-22.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,175Rp 73.5M
$13.7KMX$231.5K
-69.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.31Rp 692.4K
$74.2MX$1,255
-47.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.24Rp 532.6K
$57.0MX$964
-46.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.9Rp 1.2M
$115MX$1,951
-39.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7Rp 1.2M
$122MX$2,055
-43.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693Rp 12.2M
$1,148MX$19.4K
-39.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$414Rp 7.3M
$709MX$12.0K
-41.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,186Rp 38.5M
$2,577MX$43.6K
-15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,071Rp 18.9M
$1,295MX$21.9K
-17.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,705Rp 30.0M
$4,005MX$67.7K
-57.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,384Rp 24.4M
$2,130MX$36.0K
-35.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,082MX$18.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
11.3
21.95%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gili Trawangan: September 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $693 in Gili Trawangan and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $24.00 in Gili Trawangan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $222 vs $345 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 73% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,455 in Gili Trawangan and $2,515 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: $693 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,148 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 in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 55% 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 in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Gili Trawangan – a meal for two runs $24.00 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 living in Gili Trawangan or in Mexico City?
At $970 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,677 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 73% 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