Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $326 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $521 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $716 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 408% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 76% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

418.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$7.01 Rp 124.1K

636.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$3.50 Rp 61.9K

226.00%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$1.26 Rp 22.3K

216.67%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 MX$28.61

$0.42 Rp 7,429

295.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$0.24 Rp 4,264

454.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$2.51 Rp 44.4K

38.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.93 Rp 69.6K

50.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

13.94%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

265.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

184.21%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$1.61 Rp 28.5K

80.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$8.58 Rp 151.9K

49.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

303.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$6.83 Rp 120.9K

132.21%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

42.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

128.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

147.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

168.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

132.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$3.47 Rp 61.4K

-45.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

98.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$0.45 Rp 7,985

211.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$3.17 Rp 56.2K

72.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.67 Rp 11.9K

140.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.8K MX$393.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K MX$461.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$65.2 MX$1,124

$34.54 Rp 611.7K

88.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$30.09 MX$519

$2.36 Rp 41.8K

1175.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$23.88 Rp 422.8K

55.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$9.69 Rp 171.5K

516.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$13.38 Rp 237.0K

98.43%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$465 MX$8,012

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$1,963 Rp 34.8M

576.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$28.52 Rp 505.1K

166.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$22.86 Rp 404.8K

144.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$44.76 Rp 792.6K

149.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$28.29 Rp 501.0K

325.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $137 – making Banda Aceh 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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 408%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $490 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 153% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $7.00 in Banda Aceh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $326, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Banda Aceh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. 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.