😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $569 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $864 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,159 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 158% more expensive than Bandar Lampung, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Bandar Lampung is 58% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.68Rp 30.0K
684.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$12.43Rp 222.0K
333.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.25Rp 58.1K
189.85%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$0.96Rp 17.1K
269.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$0.36Rp 6,465
350.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$0.24Rp 4,272
362.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$2.03Rp 36.3K
53.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$3.26Rp 58.2K
42.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$1.21Rp 21.6K
40.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$0.95Rp 17.0K
186.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$0.80Rp 14.2K
138.75%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$1.41Rp 25.2K
80.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$6.36Rp 113.6K
57.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.04Rp 54.2K
166.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$6.25Rp 111.5K
85.92%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$1.97Rp 35.1K
50.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$1.05Rp 18.7K
72.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$1.35Rp 24.1K
48.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$1.41Rp 25.1K
43.97%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$1.17Rp 20.9K
81.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$1.75Rp 31.3K
29.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$0.60Rp 10.8K
133.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$0.42Rp 7,497
169.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$1.89Rp 33.7K
125.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$20.91Rp 373.3K
-25.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$1.55Rp 27.7K
13.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$3.20Rp 57.2K
12.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$0.59Rp 10.6K
-35.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$9.54Rp 170.3K
101.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$0.53Rp 9,470
160.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$0.35Rp 6,199
-20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$3.15Rp 56.2K
73.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$0.67Rp 12.0K
94.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$24.6KRp 439.8M
-24.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$24.9KRp 443.9M
-6.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$43.55Rp 777.8K
-6.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$6.53Rp 116.6K
310.57%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$26.96Rp 481.4K
11.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$23.32Rp 416.5K
123.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$9.23Rp 164.9K
190.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$2.75Rp 49.1K
129.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$30.38Rp 542.5K
1335.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$9,575Rp 171.0M
8.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$23.05Rp 411.6K
145.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$20.56Rp 367.1K
115.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$21.58Rp 385.4K
376.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$40.54Rp 723.9K
160.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$258Rp 4.6M
296.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$159Rp 2.8M
297.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$587Rp 10.5M
263.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$329Rp 5.9M
277.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$1,155Rp 20.6M
237.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$727Rp 13.0M
184.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$180Rp 3.2M
521.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
9.59
18.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Bandar Lampung: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $258 in Bandar Lampung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 521% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $12.00 in Bandar Lampung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $182 per month, with Bandar Lampung 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
Mexico City vs Bandar Lampung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Bandar Lampung?
Bandar Lampung wins on cost – living expenses run 158% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandar Lampung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or Bandar Lampung?
Mexico City pays 521% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City vs Bandar Lampung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $258 in Bandar Lampung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City vs Bandar Lampung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Bandar Lampung?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $569 in Bandar Lampung – a 158% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or Bandar Lampung?
At $569 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bandar Lampung but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Bandar Lampung the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Bandar Lampung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandar Lampung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $569 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandar Lampung hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandar Lampung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 158% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared