Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $825 per month in Jakarta vs $1,467 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Jakarta vs $2,371 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Jakarta vs $3,274 in Mexico City, rent included.

Jakarta is about 44% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Jakarta sits 38% below the global median, while Mexico City is 10% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 Rp 53.9K
$13.18 MX$228
-77.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 Rp 336.9K
$53.9 MX$931
-65.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 Rp 65.6K
$9.42 MX$163
-61.36%
Cappuccino
$2.17 Rp 39.2K
$3.55 MX$61.3
-38.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,354
$1.62 MX$27.95
-67.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,673
$1.11 MX$19.25
-76.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 Rp 49.0K
$3.12 MX$53.9
-12.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 Rp 78.2K
$4.63 MX$80.0
-6.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 Rp 24.9K
$1.70 MX$29.40
-18.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.9K
$2.72 MX$46.97
-57.35%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 Rp 17.6K
$1.91 MX$33.04
-48.69%
Eggs
$1.81 Rp 32.7K
$2.54 MX$43.82
-28.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.57 Rp 118.5K
$10.03 MX$173
-34.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 Rp 58.2K
$8.09 MX$140
-60.07%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 Rp 140.3K
$11.62 MX$201
-33.05%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 51.0K
$2.97 MX$51.3
-4.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.81 MX$31.21
-13.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.6K
$2.01 MX$34.79
8.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$2.03 MX$35.16
-26.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.3K
$2.12 MX$36.71
-15.57%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 Rp 47.3K
$2.27 MX$39.21
15.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
$1.40 MX$24.20
-26.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,290
$1.13 MX$19.53
-59.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 Rp 55.7K
$4.27 MX$73.8
-27.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.09 Rp 380.3K
$15.56 MX$269
35.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.9K
$1.76 MX$30.36
25.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 56.5K
$3.60 MX$62.1
-13.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,163
$0.38 MX$6.62
-39.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.12 Rp 218.5K
$19.18 MX$331
-36.81%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 Rp 10.4K
$1.38 MX$23.77
-57.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,206
$0.28 MX$4.78
21.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 Rp 55.0K
$5.45 MX$94.1
-44.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$1.30 MX$22.53
-38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K Rp 564.2M
$18.7K MX$322.9K
67.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K Rp 588.7M
$23.1K MX$399.7K
41.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.4 Rp 1.6M
$40.86 MX$706
118.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.44 Rp 116.2K
$26.81 MX$463
-75.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.04 Rp 487.6K
$29.96 MX$518
-9.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.82 Rp 537.8K
$52.0 MX$899
-42.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.45 Rp 224.5K
$26.84 MX$464
-53.61%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 Rp 55.1K
$6.30 MX$109
-51.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$436 MX$7,536
-61.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,722 Rp 175.3M
$10.4K MX$180.0K
-6.67%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 Rp 1.0M
$56.7 MX$979
0.71%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.94 Rp 594.0K
$44.38 MX$767
-25.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
$103 MX$1,779
-18.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 Rp 1.6M
$106 MX$1,823
-16.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 Rp 6.9M
$1,022 MX$17.7K
-62.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 Rp 4.3M
$631 MX$10.9K
-62.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 Rp 20.8M
$2,136 MX$36.9K
-46.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 Rp 11.7M
$1,243 MX$21.5K
-47.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,787 Rp 50.3M
$3,903 MX$67.4K
-28.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,422 Rp 25.6M
$2,064 MX$35.7K
-31.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$453 Rp 8.2M
$1,115 MX$19.3K
-59.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.59
11.34
-15.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jakarta: June 2, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Jakarta versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 146% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Jakarta versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $288 – making Jakarta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Jakarta vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jakarta or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 78% more than Jakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jakarta vs Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,237 per month in Jakarta and $2,201 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jakarta or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Jakarta and Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $167 per month in Jakarta and $436 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jakarta or Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 34% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jakarta or Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Jakarta, where all-in costs run around $825, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Jakarta it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jakarta or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Jakarta costs $825 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Jakarta or Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Jakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Jakarta vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities