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 $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $903 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,223 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 148% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Banda Aceh is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

737.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$12.53 Rp 224.5K

319.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$3.42 Rp 61.2K

175.73%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

213.16%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.51 Rp 9,196

215.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.28 Rp 5,070

310.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

41.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.22 Rp 21.9K

39.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

123.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

227.59%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

58.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$8.13 Rp 145.7K

23.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$3.22 Rp 57.6K

157.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.74 Rp 138.7K

49.48%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

25.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.43 Rp 25.7K

19.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

10.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

35.53%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

54.89%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

14.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

55.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.41 Rp 7,426

173.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

67.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

-18.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

16.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.30 Rp 5,318

26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$10.10 Rp 180.9K

88.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.53 Rp 9,424

160.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.38 Rp 6,741

-26.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

81.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

113.33%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$24.9K Rp 445.3M

-23.64%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$27.4K Rp 491.5M

-14.47%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

-40.12%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$4.40 Rp 78.8K

511.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$23.25 Rp 416.6K

27.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$22.74 Rp 407.4K

130.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$6.18 Rp 110.8K

324.43%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

98.08%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$94.1 Rp 1.7M

354.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$7,656 Rp 137.2M

39.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$32.50 Rp 582.2K

74.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$23.01 Rp 412.2K

94.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$35.01 Rp 627.3K

198.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$33.18 Rp 594.4K

219.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$256 Rp 4.6M

288.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$160 Rp 2.9M

287.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$595 Rp 10.7M

257.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$339 Rp 6.1M

269.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

9.15

23.93%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $256 in Banda Aceh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $13.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $165 – 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 148%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $875 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $94.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 74% 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 $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Banda Aceh, where all-in costs run around $583, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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.