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

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$2.29 Rp 40.4K
$12.14 MX$205
-81.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.20 Rp 426.2K
$53.9 MX$911
-55.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.80 Rp 66.8K
$11.09 MX$187
-65.73%
Cappuccino
$1.78 Rp 31.3K
$4.10 MX$69.3
-56.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.22 Rp 21.4K
$1.68 MX$28.44
-27.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,330
$1.39 MX$23.47
-61.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.96 Rp 34.6K
$3.33 MX$56.3
-41.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 Rp 52.1K
$5.88 MX$99.4
-49.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.7K
$1.85 MX$31.30
-33.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 Rp 30.1K
$3.17 MX$53.6
-46.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 Rp 14.6K
$2.07 MX$35.01
-59.90%
Eggs
$1.61 Rp 28.3K
$2.93 MX$49.51
-45.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.40 Rp 236.0K
$12.59 MX$213
6.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 54.2K
$10.11 MX$171
-69.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.12 Rp 160.6K
$16.09 MX$272
-43.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 Rp 48.1K
$3.39 MX$57.3
-19.47%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 21.8K
$2.08 MX$35.14
-40.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 31.6K
$2.12 MX$35.85
-15.57%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$2.41 MX$40.82
-35.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 Rp 25.5K
$2.13 MX$36.00
-31.92%
Onion (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 32.7K
$2.01 MX$33.90
-7.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 Rp 14.1K
$1.55 MX$26.13
-48.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,814
$1.36 MX$23.08
-71.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.69 Rp 29.8K
$5.77 MX$97.5
-70.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.38 Rp 306.1K
$17.74 MX$300
-2.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 Rp 31.0K
$2.07 MX$35.00
-14.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 Rp 39.5K
$4.61 MX$78.0
-51.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 Rp 3,698
$0.37 MX$6.19
-43.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.10 Rp 125.0K
$21.18 MX$358
-66.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.41 Rp 7,291
$2.05 MX$34.73
-80.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.40 Rp 7,096
$0.58 MX$9.75
-31.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.19 Rp 91.3K
$6.07 MX$103
-14.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 Rp 12.1K
$1.55 MX$26.25
-56.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K Rp 372.9M
$22.9K MX$386.8K
-7.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K Rp 468.7M
$27.2K MX$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)
$71.3 Rp 1.3M
$67.4 MX$1,140
5.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.47 Rp 96.4K
$30.62 MX$518
-82.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.78 Rp 278.0K
$37.24 MX$630
-57.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$40.33 Rp 710.4K
$61.5 MX$1,039
-34.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 Rp 226.2K
$27.12 MX$459
-52.65%
Cinema Ticket
$3.17 Rp 55.8K
$7.11 MX$120
-55.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$353 Rp 6.2M
$456 MX$7,714
-22.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,175 Rp 73.5M
$13.7K MX$231.5K
-69.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.31 Rp 692.4K
$74.2 MX$1,255
-47.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.24 Rp 532.6K
$57.0 MX$964
-46.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$69.9 Rp 1.2M
$115 MX$1,951
-39.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7 Rp 1.2M
$122 MX$2,055
-43.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$693 Rp 12.2M
$1,148 MX$19.4K
-39.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$414 Rp 7.3M
$709 MX$12.0K
-41.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,186 Rp 38.5M
$2,577 MX$43.6K
-15.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 Rp 18.9M
$1,295 MX$21.9K
-17.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,705 Rp 30.0M
$4,005 MX$67.7K
-57.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,384 Rp 24.4M
$2,130 MX$36.0K
-35.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,082 MX$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.

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