๐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $993 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,466 in Mexico City.
๐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,737 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,325 in Mexico City.
๐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,481 in Gili Trawangan versus $3,184 in Mexico City.
๐Living in Gili Trawangan costs roughly 32% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
๐The two cities straddle the global median: Gili Trawangan is 26% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
๐ฝ Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.28Rpย 39.1K
$13.30MX$231
-82.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.70Rpย 372.9K
$53.8MX$932
-59.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.27Rpย 56.2K
$9.42MX$163
-65.29%
Cappuccino
$1.83Rpย 31.5K
$3.59MX$62.3
-49.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92Rpย 15.8K
$1.62MX$28.13
-43.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rpย 8,464
$1.12MX$19.49
-56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01Rpย 34.5K
$3.25MX$56.3
-38.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53Rpย 43.5K
$4.65MX$80.6
-45.59%
๐ Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rpย 23.7K
$1.64MX$28.37
-15.85%
White Bread(500g)
$1.93Rpย 33.1K
$2.65MX$46.00
-27.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rpย 16.2K
$1.96MX$33.99
-52.04%
Eggs
$1.87Rpย 32.2K
$2.54MX$44.08
-26.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.91Rpย 187.5K
$9.97MX$173
9.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.33Rpย 57.2K
$8.39MX$145
-60.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.18Rpย 157.8K
$11.83MX$205
-22.40%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87Rpย 49.3K
$2.86MX$49.62
0.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18Rpย 20.3K
$1.73MX$30.05
-31.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Rpย 37.1K
$1.99MX$34.50
8.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.71Rpย 29.3K
$2.05MX$35.51
-16.59%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52Rpย 26.1K
$2.06MX$35.64
-26.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67Rpย 28.6K
$2.28MX$39.54
-26.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82Rpย 14.1K
$1.45MX$25.05
-43.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rpย 9,459
$1.09MX$18.83
-49.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rpย 43.4K
$4.27MX$73.9
-40.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.15Rpย 312.0K
$14.67MX$254
23.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.16Rpย 37.1K
$1.76MX$30.58
22.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10Rpย 36.1K
$3.57MX$61.8
-41.18%
๐ Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23Rpย 3,950
$0.38MX$6.67
-39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.86Rpย 117.9K
$18.73MX$325
-63.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rpย 7,084
$1.39MX$24.09
-70.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36Rpย 6,173
$0.30MX$5.26
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.36Rpย 92.0K
$5.41MX$93.8
-0.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74Rpย 12.7K
$1.34MX$23.22
-44.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0KRpย 377.5M
$18.9KMX$326.7K
16.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRpย 471.0M
$23.2KMX$402.0K
18.13%
๐งพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.1Rpย 1.2M
$40.30MX$698
66.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.39Rpย 58.3K
$27.15MX$471
-87.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.03Rpย 344.2K
$29.46MX$510
-32.01%
๐ Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.3Rpย 1.2M
$52.7MX$914
31.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.65Rpย 79.9K
$26.17MX$454
-82.23%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79Rpย 48.0K
$6.18MX$107
-54.85%
๐งธ Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218Rpย 3.8M
$441MX$7,637
-50.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,855Rpย 83.4M
$10.7KMX$185.4K
-54.61%
๐๐ Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.20Rpย 811.2K
$57.2MX$992
-17.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.73Rpย 562.5K
$45.04MX$781
-27.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5Rpย 1.3M
$103MX$1,793
-26.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.5Rpย 1.2M
$109MX$1,884
-37.92%
๐ Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$602Rpย 10.3M
$1,000MX$17.3K
-39.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$412Rpย 7.1M
$632MX$11.0K
-34.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,057Rpย 35.3M
$2,141MX$37.1K
-3.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,244Rpย 21.4M
$1,253MX$21.7K
-0.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,829Rpย 31.4M
$3,745MX$64.9K
-51.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,424Rpย 24.5M
$2,381MX$41.3K
-40.21%
๐ต Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,079MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
11.34
17.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gili Trawangan: April 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
๐ A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $602 in Gili Trawangan and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
๐Dining out: $22 in Gili Trawangan vs $54 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $286 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 48% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,490 in Gili Trawangan and $2,199 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: $602 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,000 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 25% 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 โ a meal for two runs $22.00 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 $993 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,466 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 โ expenses run 48% 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