🙂A single person spends $508 per month in Karawang vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $755 per month in Karawang vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,001 per month in Karawang vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Karawang is about 65% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Karawang sits 62% below the global median, while Mexico City is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$12.98MX$223
-90.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.97Rp 160.7K
$52.6MX$903
-82.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36Rp 60.3K
$9.43MX$162
-64.37%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$3.57MX$61.3
-59.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,442
$1.61MX$27.55
-70.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,314
$1.15MX$19.81
-79.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47Rp 62.2K
$3.15MX$54.0
10.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46Rp 62.0K
$4.86MX$83.4
-28.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.8K
$1.70MX$29.17
-28.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$2.64MX$45.23
-59.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.9K
$1.90MX$32.67
-53.16%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$2.54MX$43.62
-40.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$10.08MX$173
-70.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.98Rp 53.4K
$8.29MX$142
-64.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.65Rp 137.0K
$11.57MX$199
-33.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96Rp 35.2K
$3.03MX$52.0
-35.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.20Rp 21.4K
$1.71MX$29.35
-29.82%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.0K
$2.05MX$35.16
-32.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53Rp 9,546
$2.06MX$35.36
-74.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.5K
$2.06MX$35.43
-50.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66Rp 29.7K
$2.17MX$37.25
-23.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.2K
$1.40MX$24.08
-31.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,530
$1.12MX$19.26
-62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61Rp 46.8K
$4.29MX$73.7
-39.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.71Rp 388.9K
$15.41MX$265
40.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.5K
$1.67MX$28.74
25.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46Rp 61.9K
$3.69MX$63.3
-6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$0.38MX$6.55
86.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08Rp 180.6K
$19.06MX$327
-47.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71Rp 12.8K
$1.38MX$23.70
-48.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$0.28MX$4.74
175.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.19Rp 21.4K
$5.42MX$92.9
-78.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.3K
$1.28MX$21.98
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 442.6M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
30.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 462.5M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
10.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.12Rp 772.6K
$41.02MX$704
5.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55Rp 81.5K
$26.92MX$462
-83.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.66Rp 244.7K
$29.69MX$510
-53.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.04Rp 394.9K
$52.3MX$898
-57.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13Rp 271.1K
$26.23MX$450
-42.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 53.8K
$6.18MX$106
-51.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.25Rp 864.4K
$427MX$7,331
-88.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,474Rp 133.9M
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-30.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.29Rp 327.6K
$56.8MX$975
-67.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.36Rp 543.9K
$44.83MX$769
-32.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$52.8Rp 945.6K
$105MX$1,794
-49.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.4Rp 974.5K
$106MX$1,819
-48.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$995MX$17.1K
-84.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$77.6Rp 1.4M
$621MX$10.7K
-87.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$245Rp 4.4M
$2,126MX$36.5K
-88.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123Rp 2.2M
$1,254MX$21.5K
-90.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,141Rp 20.4M
$3,903MX$67.0K
-70.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$643Rp 11.5M
$2,096MX$36.0K
-69.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$408Rp 7.3M
$1,107MX$19.0K
-63.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
11.34
-19.31%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karawang: June 7, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Karawang versus $995 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 171% 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 $9.00 in Karawang versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $288 – making Karawang 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
Karawang vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karawang or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 185% more than Karawang, 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 Karawang vs Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $763 per month in Karawang and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Karawang or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Karawang vs Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Karawang and $53.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Karawang compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $508 in Karawang and $1,447 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Karawang or Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karawang, where all-in costs run around $508, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Karawang 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, Karawang or Mexico City?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karawang costs $508 versus $1,447 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Karawang compared to Mexico City?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Karawang or Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Karawang. 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.