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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $511 per month in Karawang vs $1,484 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $774 per month in Karawang vs $2,381 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,037 per month in Karawang vs $3,278 in Mexico City, rent included.

Karawang is about 66% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Karawang sits 62% below the global median, while Mexico City is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.33 Rp 22.9K
$12.98 MX$226
-89.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19 Rp 158.7K
$53.1 MX$923
-82.68%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 Rp 56.9K
$9.72 MX$169
-66.05%
Cappuccino
$1.45 Rp 25.0K
$3.75 MX$65.2
-61.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,170
$1.57 MX$27.30
-70.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,158
$1.13 MX$19.64
-78.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.34 Rp 57.7K
$3.18 MX$55.3
5.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45 Rp 59.5K
$4.66 MX$81.1
-25.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.1K
$1.62 MX$28.21
-24.69%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 Rp 18.3K
$2.71 MX$47.09
-60.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.1K
$1.88 MX$32.70
-53.72%
Eggs
$1.57 Rp 27.1K
$2.51 MX$43.65
-37.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.02 Rp 52.2K
$10.08 MX$175
-70.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 53.2K
$8.29 MX$144
-62.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.65 Rp 132.0K
$11.94 MX$208
-35.93%
Apples (1kg)
$2.05 Rp 35.3K
$2.86 MX$49.77
-28.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.19 Rp 20.5K
$1.75 MX$30.45
-32.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 Rp 24.3K
$2.08 MX$36.27
-32.21%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.58 Rp 9,960
$1.97 MX$34.27
-70.56%
Potato (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.1K
$2.16 MX$37.58
-54.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.75 Rp 30.2K
$2.18 MX$37.94
-19.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 15.4K
$1.39 MX$24.20
-35.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,780
$1.12 MX$19.57
-59.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53 Rp 43.8K
$4.20 MX$73.1
-39.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.18 Rp 400.3K
$14.25 MX$248
62.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 Rp 35.2K
$1.76 MX$30.68
15.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 Rp 61.1K
$3.68 MX$64.1
-3.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.65 Rp 11.2K
$0.39 MX$6.71
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.88 Rp 170.7K
$18.66 MX$325
-47.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 Rp 12.4K
$1.39 MX$24.12
-48.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$0.30 MX$5.29
156.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 Rp 21.9K
$5.42 MX$94.3
-76.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
$1.35 MX$23.50
-41.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 417.4M
$18.9K MX$328.6K
28.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K Rp 453.2M
$23.2K MX$402.8K
13.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.20 Rp 763.1K
$40.82 MX$710
8.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63 Rp 80.0K
$27.50 MX$479
-83.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.79 Rp 238.1K
$30.38 MX$529
-54.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.20 Rp 383.3K
$53.4 MX$930
-58.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.09 Rp 260.6K
$26.30 MX$458
-42.62%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14 Rp 54.3K
$6.27 MX$109
-49.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$47.65 Rp 822.8K
$436 MX$7,588
-89.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,597 Rp 131.2M
$10.5K MX$182.1K
-27.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.16 Rp 313.6K
$56.8 MX$988
-68.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.10 Rp 537.0K
$44.79 MX$779
-30.56%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$54.8 Rp 946.5K
$103 MX$1,789
-46.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.0 Rp 932.2K
$108 MX$1,878
-49.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$1,000 MX$17.4K
-84.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$76.4 Rp 1.3M
$620 MX$10.8K
-87.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$249 Rp 4.3M
$2,137 MX$37.2K
-88.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 Rp 2.1M
$1,235 MX$21.5K
-90.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,198 Rp 20.7M
$3,865 MX$67.3K
-69.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$722 Rp 12.5M
$2,332 MX$40.6K
-69.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$426 Rp 7.4M
$1,067 MX$18.6K
-60.10%
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Karawang versus $1,000 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 151% 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: $185 vs $286 – 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 191% 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 $766 per month in Karawang and $2,225 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 $511 in Karawang and $1,484 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 $511, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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 $511 versus $1,484 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.

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