🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $577 in Mataram versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $888 in Mataram versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Mataram versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Mataram costs roughly 61% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mataram is 57% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.05Rp 18.3K
$12.98MX$227
-91.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02Rp 190.9K
$53.1MX$929
-79.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.25Rp 39.0K
$9.72MX$170
-76.85%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 32.4K
$3.75MX$65.6
-50.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,529
$1.57MX$27.46
-64.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,243
$1.13MX$19.76
-68.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 45.6K
$3.18MX$55.7
-17.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78Rp 65.6K
$4.66MX$81.6
-18.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56Rp 27.0K
$1.62MX$28.37
-3.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Rp 29.1K
$2.71MX$47.36
-38.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$1.88MX$32.89
-55.85%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$2.51MX$43.90
-45.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32Rp 57.5K
$10.08MX$176
-67.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53Rp 61.2K
$8.29MX$145
-57.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29Rp 109.1K
$11.94MX$209
-47.32%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70Rp 29.5K
$2.86MX$50.1
-40.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.0K
$1.75MX$30.62
-30.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.3K
$2.08MX$36.48
-10.58%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$1.97MX$34.46
-59.90%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$2.16MX$37.79
-63.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.8K
$2.18MX$38.16
-13.30%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47Rp 8,180
$1.39MX$24.34
-66.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,443
$1.12MX$19.69
-72.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 31.1K
$4.20MX$73.5
-57.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.27Rp 282.1K
$14.25MX$249
14.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46Rp 42.6K
$1.76MX$30.85
39.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 65.9K
$3.68MX$64.5
3.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$0.39MX$6.74
61.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.37Rp 318.5K
$18.66MX$327
-1.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,285
$1.39MX$24.26
-65.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,024
$0.30MX$5.32
-3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16Rp 54.7K
$5.42MX$94.9
-41.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$1.35MX$23.63
-51.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 405.9M
$18.9KMX$330.5K
24.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 485.3M
$23.2KMX$405.2K
20.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.2Rp 870.0K
$40.82MX$714
22.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 76.2K
$27.50MX$481
-84.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.07Rp 330.6K
$30.38MX$532
-37.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.67Rp 462.3K
$53.4MX$935
-50.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.66Rp 132.7K
$26.30MX$460
-70.87%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 36.3K
$6.27MX$110
-66.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8Rp 1.6M
$436MX$7,632
-79.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,319Rp 74.9M
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-58.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.80Rp 637.8K
$56.8MX$993
-35.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84Rp 430.6K
$44.79MX$784
-44.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.1Rp 1.1M
$103MX$1,799
-40.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.16Rp 696.1K
$108MX$1,888
-62.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.9Rp 1.3M
$1,000MX$17.5K
-92.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.2M
$620MX$10.9K
-79.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$2,137MX$37.4K
-92.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265Rp 4.6M
$1,235MX$21.6K
-78.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,199Rp 20.8M
$3,865MX$67.6K
-68.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783Rp 13.6M
$2,332MX$40.8K
-66.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202Rp 3.5M
$1,067MX$18.7K
-81.03%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.9 in Mataram and $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 427% 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 $179 vs $286 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 157% in total monthly costs ($577 vs $1,484 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 427% 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: $76.9 in Mataram versus $1,000 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 60% 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 $577 in Mataram versus $1,484 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 157% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.