🙂A single person spends $540 per month in Magelang vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $856 per month in Magelang vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,172 per month in Magelang vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Magelang is about 68% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Magelang sits 61% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44Rp 25.4K
$12.14MX$205
-88.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.73Rp 153.8K
$53.9MX$911
-83.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.69Rp 47.3K
$11.09MX$187
-75.74%
Cappuccino
$0.77Rp 13.5K
$4.10MX$69.3
-81.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33Rp 5,739
$1.68MX$28.44
-80.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.18Rp 3,181
$1.39MX$23.47
-87.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.35Rp 23.7K
$3.33MX$56.3
-59.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 48.9K
$5.88MX$99.4
-52.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05Rp 18.6K
$1.85MX$31.30
-43.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$3.17MX$53.6
-64.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.81Rp 14.3K
$2.07MX$35.01
-60.87%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.3K
$2.93MX$49.51
-58.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.86Rp 120.8K
$12.59MX$213
-45.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.42Rp 42.7K
$10.11MX$171
-76.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.90Rp 121.5K
$16.09MX$272
-57.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.10Rp 37.0K
$3.39MX$57.3
-38.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19Rp 21.0K
$2.08MX$35.14
-42.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.5K
$2.12MX$35.85
-39.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.7K
$2.41MX$40.82
-63.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02Rp 18.0K
$2.13MX$36.00
-52.11%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39Rp 24.5K
$2.01MX$33.90
-30.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.75Rp 13.2K
$1.55MX$26.13
-51.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,394
$1.36MX$23.08
-73.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04Rp 35.9K
$5.77MX$97.5
-64.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.88Rp 297.2K
$17.74MX$300
-4.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57Rp 27.6K
$2.07MX$35.00
-24.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.18Rp 38.4K
$4.61MX$78.0
-52.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,155
$0.37MX$6.19
-21.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.37Rp 147.4K
$21.18MX$358
-60.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,561
$2.05MX$34.73
-79.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,183
$0.58MX$9.75
-39.66%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.23Rp 39.2K
$6.07MX$103
-63.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71Rp 12.4K
$1.55MX$26.25
-54.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7KRp 452.9M
$22.9KMX$386.8K
12.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.4KRp 518.6M
$27.2KMX$460.5K
8.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.35Rp 816.3K
$67.4MX$1,140
-31.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.94Rp 69.3K
$30.62MX$518
-87.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.82Rp 349.1K
$37.24MX$630
-46.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$13.96Rp 245.9K
$61.5MX$1,039
-77.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.66Rp 64.4K
$27.12MX$459
-86.50%
Cinema Ticket
$2.58Rp 45.5K
$7.11MX$120
-63.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$45.84Rp 807.3K
$456MX$7,714
-89.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,894Rp 68.6M
$13.7KMX$231.5K
-71.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.07Rp 353.4K
$74.2MX$1,255
-72.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$19.83Rp 349.3K
$57.0MX$964
-65.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.5Rp 1.0M
$115MX$1,951
-49.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.3Rp 938.8K
$122MX$2,055
-56.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$226Rp 4.0M
$1,148MX$19.4K
-80.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$709MX$12.0K
-77.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$561Rp 9.9M
$2,577MX$43.6K
-78.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$362Rp 6.4M
$1,295MX$21.9K
-72.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,184Rp 20.9M
$4,005MX$67.7K
-70.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$662Rp 11.7M
$2,130MX$36.0K
-68.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$180Rp 3.2M
$1,082MX$18.3K
-83.34%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
11.3
-33.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Magelang: September 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $226 in Magelang versus $1,148 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 500% 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 Magelang versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $345 – making Magelang 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
Magelang vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Magelang and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $540 in Magelang, $1,677 in Mexico City – roughly 211% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Magelang compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $810 per month in Magelang and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Magelang and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magelang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 103% 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Magelang and $54.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Magelang, where all-in costs run around $540, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Magelang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Magelang and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $540 in Magelang to $1,677 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Magelang or Mexico City safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Magelang and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Magelang. 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.