🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $578 in Mataram versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $867 in Mataram versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,157 in Mataram versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Mataram costs roughly 60% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mataram is 57% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$12.98MX$223
-91.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.01Rp 197.3K
$52.6MX$903
-79.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.35Rp 42.2K
$9.43MX$162
-75.08%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$3.57MX$61.3
-47.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,705
$1.61MX$27.55
-66.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,486
$1.15MX$19.81
-68.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54Rp 45.4K
$3.15MX$54.0
-19.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77Rp 67.5K
$4.86MX$83.4
-22.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$1.70MX$29.17
-9.41%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67Rp 30.0K
$2.64MX$45.23
-36.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.90MX$32.67
-56.32%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.5K
$2.54MX$43.62
-43.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.19Rp 57.2K
$10.08MX$173
-68.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$8.29MX$142
-56.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$11.57MX$199
-47.28%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.4K
$3.03MX$52.0
-45.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.7K
$1.71MX$29.35
-26.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 33.2K
$2.05MX$35.16
-9.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75Rp 13.4K
$2.06MX$35.36
-63.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84Rp 15.0K
$2.06MX$35.43
-59.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88Rp 33.7K
$2.17MX$37.25
-13.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48Rp 8,621
$1.40MX$24.08
-65.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34Rp 6,097
$1.12MX$19.26
-69.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$4.29MX$73.7
-58.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.23Rp 272.9K
$15.41MX$265
-1.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 42.8K
$1.67MX$28.74
43.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 68.1K
$3.69MX$63.3
2.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$0.38MX$6.55
68.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.26Rp 327.2K
$19.06MX$327
-4.20%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,057
$1.38MX$23.70
-63.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,136
$0.28MX$4.74
3.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$5.42MX$92.9
-44.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$1.28MX$21.98
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KRp 415.3M
$19.0KMX$325.8K
22.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 486.3M
$23.5KMX$402.7K
15.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4Rp 902.3K
$41.02MX$704
22.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 76.2K
$26.92MX$462
-84.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.16Rp 343.3K
$29.69MX$510
-35.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.28Rp 470.9K
$52.3MX$898
-49.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75Rp 138.9K
$26.23MX$450
-70.45%
Cinema Ticket
$2.19Rp 39.2K
$6.18MX$106
-64.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.9Rp 1.6M
$427MX$7,331
-78.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,244Rp 76.0M
$10.7KMX$183.6K
-60.33%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.49Rp 671.7K
$56.8MX$975
-34.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.39Rp 437.0K
$44.83MX$769
-45.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0Rp 1.1M
$105MX$1,794
-41.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32Rp 722.3K
$106MX$1,819
-61.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$77.1Rp 1.4M
$995MX$17.1K
-92.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127Rp 2.3M
$621MX$10.7K
-79.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$2,126MX$36.5K
-92.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$1,254MX$21.5K
-79.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,135Rp 20.3M
$3,903MX$67.0K
-70.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$700Rp 12.5M
$2,096MX$36.0K
-66.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$197Rp 3.5M
$1,107MX$19.0K
-82.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
11.34
-20.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataram: June 9, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $77.1 in Mataram and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 463% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $11.00 in Mataram vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $176 vs $288 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.
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
Mataram vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mataram and Mexico City?
Mataram and Mexico City differ by about 150% in total monthly costs ($578 vs $1,447 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 463% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mataram and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $77.1 in Mataram versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 63% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $53.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $578 in Mataram versus $1,447 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mataram but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Mataram the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mataram and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mataram or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 150% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.