🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $974 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,481 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,736 in Gili Trawangan versus $2,352 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,499 in Gili Trawangan versus $3,222 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Gili Trawangan costs roughly 34% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gili Trawangan is 27% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.40Rp 43.1K
$13.16MX$230
-81.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.82Rp 391.3K
$53.6MX$937
-59.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.34Rp 60.0K
$9.55MX$167
-65.03%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 33.6K
$3.72MX$65.1
-49.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$1.57MX$27.42
-43.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,219
$1.16MX$20.22
-60.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.94Rp 34.8K
$3.18MX$55.7
-38.99%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.57Rp 46.1K
$4.63MX$81.1
-44.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.71MX$29.83
-19.30%
White Bread(500g)
$1.92Rp 34.5K
$2.62MX$45.77
-26.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.4K
$1.89MX$33.04
-51.85%
Eggs
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$2.60MX$45.40
-30.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.25Rp 201.8K
$9.91MX$173
13.52%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35Rp 60.1K
$8.22MX$144
-59.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.34Rp 167.4K
$11.78MX$206
-20.71%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$3.00MX$52.4
-7.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24Rp 22.3K
$1.80MX$31.48
-31.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15Rp 38.5K
$2.07MX$36.27
3.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$1.97MX$34.41
-13.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$2.07MX$36.24
-27.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75Rp 31.4K
$2.17MX$38.04
-19.35%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$1.40MX$24.54
-42.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,819
$1.07MX$18.80
-48.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.40Rp 43.1K
$4.12MX$72.0
-41.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.88Rp 320.7K
$17.42MX$305
2.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.9K
$1.68MX$29.31
26.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.6K
$3.65MX$63.8
-42.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.25Rp 4,487
$0.38MX$6.65
-34.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.90Rp 123.8K
$18.71MX$327
-63.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.41Rp 7,374
$1.33MX$23.25
-69.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.39Rp 6,949
$0.30MX$5.30
30.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25Rp 94.2K
$5.51MX$96.4
-4.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.4K
$1.31MX$22.84
-47.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1KRp 395.6M
$19.2KMX$335.3K
15.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.9KRp 482.2M
$23.7KMX$415.4K
13.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.8Rp 1.2M
$41.14MX$720
64.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.40Rp 61.0K
$27.74MX$485
-87.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.73Rp 371.8K
$30.13MX$527
-31.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.0Rp 1.2M
$53.7MX$940
26.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.60Rp 82.6K
$25.98MX$454
-82.29%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.8K
$6.49MX$114
-55.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$218Rp 3.9M
$437MX$7,638
-50.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,891Rp 87.7M
$10.5KMX$182.9K
-53.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.61Rp 835.9K
$58.3MX$1,020
-20.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.32Rp 597.5K
$45.86MX$802
-27.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.6Rp 1.4M
$101MX$1,775
-25.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.1Rp 1.2M
$107MX$1,863
-36.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$605Rp 10.8M
$1,005MX$17.6K
-39.86%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415Rp 7.4M
$634MX$11.1K
-34.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,097Rp 37.6M
$2,148MX$37.6K
-2.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,249Rp 22.4M
$1,247MX$21.8K
0.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,690Rp 30.3M
$3,859MX$67.5K
-56.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,364Rp 24.5M
$2,085MX$36.5K
-34.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gili Trawangan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,072MX$18.8K
-
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $605 in Gili Trawangan and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $22.00 in Gili Trawangan vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $229 vs $291 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 52% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,461 in Gili Trawangan and $2,222 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: $605 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,005 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 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 in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Gili Trawangan – 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 living in Gili Trawangan or in Mexico City?
At $974 in Gili Trawangan versus $1,481 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 52% 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