Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,288 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,328 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $3,367 in Bali, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 14% more than Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Bali is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$2.97 Rp 53.5K
343.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$931
$26.53 Rp 478.4K
103.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$4.09 Rp 73.7K
130.32%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.3
$2.25 Rp 40.5K
57.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.95
$1.14 Rp 20.6K
42.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.25
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
79.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$53.9
$2.42 Rp 43.7K
28.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.0
$3.30 Rp 59.5K
40.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.40
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
-1.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$46.97
$2.42 Rp 43.6K
12.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.04
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
66.09%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.82
$2.31 Rp 41.6K
9.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$173
$13.70 Rp 247.0K
-26.79%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$4.13 Rp 74.5K
95.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$11.33 Rp 204.3K
2.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$3.45 Rp 62.3K
-13.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.21
$1.53 Rp 27.5K
18.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.79
$2.70 Rp 48.7K
-25.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.16
$2.15 Rp 38.7K
-5.58%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.71
$1.83 Rp 32.9K
15.85%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.21
$2.13 Rp 38.4K
6.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.20
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.53
$0.67 Rp 12.2K
68.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.8
$3.16 Rp 57.0K
35.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$22.80 Rp 411.2K
-31.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.36
$2.65 Rp 47.8K
-33.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.1
$2.72 Rp 49.1K
32.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$0.27 Rp 4,830
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$331
$8.46 Rp 152.6K
126.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.77
$0.46 Rp 8,240
200.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.46 Rp 8,256
-39.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.1
$6.00 Rp 108.3K
-9.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.53
$0.82 Rp 14.8K
58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$322.9K
$26.0K Rp 468.8M
-28.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$399.7K
$31.9K Rp 574.7M
-27.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$706
$79.7 Rp 1.4M
-48.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$463
$3.92 Rp 70.7K
583.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$24.36 Rp 439.2K
22.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$899
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
-36.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$5.30 Rp 95.5K
406.42%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$3.44 Rp 62.1K
83.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,536
$267 Rp 4.8M
63.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.0K
$5,920 Rp 106.8M
75.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$979
$51.0 Rp 919.9K
11.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$767
$36.67 Rp 661.3K
21.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,779
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
22.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,823
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
41.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$854 Rp 15.4M
19.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$574 Rp 10.3M
9.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$2,981 Rp 53.8M
-28.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$1,784 Rp 32.2M
-30.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.4K
$2,374 Rp 42.8M
64.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$1,973 Rp 35.6M
4.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$223 Rp 4.0M
400.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
13.28
-14.61%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $854 in Bali. 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 400% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $285 – making Bali 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
Mexico City vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bali?
Mexico City costs about 14% more than Bali, 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 Mexico City vs Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,932 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bali, 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 Mexico City vs Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City and $27.00 in Bali. 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 Mexico City compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $1,288 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Bali?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,288, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Bali 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, Mexico City or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bali costs $1,288 versus $1,467 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Bali?
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 Mexico City or Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Bali. 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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