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 $448 per month in Karawang vs $1,682 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $815 per month in Karawang vs $2,599 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,182 per month in Karawang vs $3,516 in Mexico City, rent included.

Karawang is about 73% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Karawang sits 67% below the global median, while Mexico City is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.42 Rp 25.3K
$11.83 MX$200
-88.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.29 Rp 200.6K
$52.2 MX$884
-78.35%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.45 Rp 61.4K
$10.87 MX$184
-68.26%
Cappuccino
$1.51 Rp 26.9K
$4.03 MX$68.2
-62.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,183
$1.71 MX$28.99
-76.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 Rp 3,550
$1.34 MX$22.70
-85.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.01 Rp 53.5K
$3.39 MX$57.5
-11.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05 Rp 54.2K
$5.74 MX$97.3
-46.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 Rp 20.2K
$1.89 MX$31.99
-40.21%
White Bread (500g)
$0.98 Rp 17.5K
$3.17 MX$53.8
-69.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$2.05 MX$34.74
-58.05%
Eggs
$1.43 Rp 25.4K
$3.01 MX$51.1
-52.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$2.74 Rp 48.7K
$12.61 MX$214
-78.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.82 Rp 50.1K
$9.94 MX$169
-71.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.76 Rp 137.9K
$16.00 MX$271
-51.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 32.2K
$3.28 MX$55.6
-44.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 19.5K
$2.06 MX$34.87
-47.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.0K
$2.09 MX$35.36
-40.67%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 Rp 9,104
$2.50 MX$42.44
-79.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
$2.05 MX$34.76
-56.10%
Onion (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.3K
$1.87 MX$31.70
-17.65%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.65 Rp 11.6K
$1.57 MX$26.66
-58.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,709
$1.39 MX$23.64
-69.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.67 Rp 47.5K
$5.38 MX$91.2
-50.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.86 Rp 406.3K
$17.95 MX$304
27.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82 Rp 32.4K
$2.02 MX$34.31
-9.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17 Rp 56.4K
$4.76 MX$80.7
-33.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.59 Rp 10.5K
$0.36 MX$6.13
63.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$20.80 MX$353
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
$2.06 MX$34.92
-57.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 Rp 9,819
$0.56 MX$9.55
-1.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
$5.82 MX$98.6
-80.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.1K
$1.54 MX$26.05
-48.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K Rp 381.2M
$22.5K MX$380.6K
-4.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4K Rp 522.4M
$26.5K MX$448.7K
11.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.67 Rp 598.5K
$66.0 MX$1,118
-48.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.27 Rp 76.0K
$30.98 MX$525
-86.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.52 Rp 222.5K
$36.20 MX$613
-65.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.05 Rp 356.4K
$57.5 MX$975
-65.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.54 Rp 151.8K
$26.75 MX$453
-68.07%
Cinema Ticket
$2.83 Rp 50.3K
$7.13 MX$121
-60.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$43.30 Rp 769.6K
$457 MX$7,738
-90.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,440 Rp 150.0M
$13.2K MX$224.5K
-36.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$16.60 Rp 295.0K
$75.8 MX$1,285
-78.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.01 Rp 497.8K
$54.1 MX$917
-48.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$49.61 Rp 881.7K
$116 MX$1,974
-57.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.89 Rp 869.0K
$122 MX$2,063
-59.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$139 Rp 2.5M
$1,147 MX$19.4K
-87.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$69.9 Rp 1.2M
$726 MX$12.3K
-90.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$551 Rp 9.8M
$2,503 MX$42.4K
-77.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$366 Rp 6.5M
$1,331 MX$22.6K
-72.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,171 Rp 20.8M
$3,895 MX$66.0K
-69.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$696 Rp 12.4M
$2,149 MX$36.4K
-67.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$404 Rp 7.2M
$1,069 MX$18.1K
-62.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.38
11.35
0.26%

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

Last update for Karawang: August 17, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $139 in Karawang versus $1,147 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 164% 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 $11.00 in Karawang versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $344 – 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 275% more than Karawang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $672 per month in Karawang and $2,523 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 much does it cost to live in Karawang compared to Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $448 in Karawang and $1,682 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Karawang and in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $43.30 per month in Karawang and $457 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Karawang or in Mexico City?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karawang, where all-in costs run around $448, than in Mexico City at $1,682. 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 $448 versus $1,682 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 to 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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