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 $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
$1.27 Rp 22.8K
$12.98 MX$223
-90.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.97 Rp 160.7K
$52.6 MX$903
-82.95%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.36 Rp 60.3K
$9.43 MX$162
-64.37%
Cappuccino
$1.45 Rp 26.0K
$3.57 MX$61.3
-59.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,442
$1.61 MX$27.55
-70.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 Rp 4,314
$1.15 MX$19.81
-79.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 Rp 62.2K
$3.15 MX$54.0
10.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 Rp 62.0K
$4.86 MX$83.4
-28.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 Rp 21.8K
$1.70 MX$29.17
-28.82%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$2.64 MX$45.23
-59.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.9K
$1.90 MX$32.67
-53.16%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.3K
$2.54 MX$43.62
-40.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
$10.08 MX$173
-70.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.98 Rp 53.4K
$8.29 MX$142
-64.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.65 Rp 137.0K
$11.57 MX$199
-33.88%
Apples (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.2K
$3.03 MX$52.0
-35.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.20 Rp 21.4K
$1.71 MX$29.35
-29.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 25.0K
$2.05 MX$35.16
-32.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.53 Rp 9,546
$2.06 MX$35.36
-74.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.5K
$2.06 MX$35.43
-50.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 Rp 29.7K
$2.17 MX$37.25
-23.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 Rp 17.2K
$1.40 MX$24.08
-31.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,530
$1.12 MX$19.26
-62.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.61 Rp 46.8K
$4.29 MX$73.7
-39.16%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.71 Rp 388.9K
$15.41 MX$265
40.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 Rp 37.5K
$1.67 MX$28.74
25.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 Rp 61.9K
$3.69 MX$63.3
-6.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$0.38 MX$6.55
86.84%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.08 Rp 180.6K
$19.06 MX$327
-47.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 Rp 12.8K
$1.38 MX$23.70
-48.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 Rp 13.8K
$0.28 MX$4.74
175.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
$5.42 MX$92.9
-78.04%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 15.3K
$1.28 MX$21.98
-33.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 442.6M
$19.0K MX$325.8K
30.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K Rp 462.5M
$23.5K MX$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)
$43.12 Rp 772.6K
$41.02 MX$704
5.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55 Rp 81.5K
$26.92 MX$462
-83.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.66 Rp 244.7K
$29.69 MX$510
-53.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.04 Rp 394.9K
$52.3 MX$898
-57.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.13 Rp 271.1K
$26.23 MX$450
-42.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00 Rp 53.8K
$6.18 MX$106
-51.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.25 Rp 864.4K
$427 MX$7,331
-88.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,474 Rp 133.9M
$10.7K MX$183.6K
-30.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.29 Rp 327.6K
$56.8 MX$975
-67.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.36 Rp 543.9K
$44.83 MX$769
-32.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$52.8 Rp 945.6K
$105 MX$1,794
-49.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.4 Rp 974.5K
$106 MX$1,819
-48.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.8M
$995 MX$17.1K
-84.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$77.6 Rp 1.4M
$621 MX$10.7K
-87.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 Rp 4.4M
$2,126 MX$36.5K
-88.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$123 Rp 2.2M
$1,254 MX$21.5K
-90.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,141 Rp 20.4M
$3,903 MX$67.0K
-70.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$643 Rp 11.5M
$2,096 MX$36.0K
-69.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$408 Rp 7.3M
$1,107 MX$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.

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