😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $587 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $938 in Bandar Lampung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,290 in Bandar Lampung.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 183% more expensive than in Bandar Lampung, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Bandar Lampung is 57% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$1.58Rp 27.9K
654.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$10.33Rp 182.9K
399.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$2.62Rp 46.4K
335.50%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$0.90Rp 15.9K
343.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$0.27Rp 4,828
514.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.24Rp 4,261
454.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$1.67Rp 29.6K
107.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.53Rp 44.9K
133.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.00Rp 17.8K
88.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.15Rp 20.3K
182.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$0.67Rp 11.8K
222.39%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$1.52Rp 26.8K
90.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$9.50Rp 168.2K
35.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$3.16Rp 55.9K
218.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$7.93Rp 140.4K
100.00%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$1.96Rp 34.7K
67.86%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.12Rp 19.8K
79.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.45Rp 25.6K
51.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$1.34Rp 23.6K
76.12%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.81Rp 14.3K
153.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.51Rp 26.8K
25.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.59Rp 10.4K
172.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.41Rp 7,244
241.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$1.97Rp 34.9K
177.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$21.87Rp 387.2K
-19.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.45Rp 25.6K
42.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$3.21Rp 56.8K
45.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.24Rp 4,289
41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$0.49Rp 8,697
328.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.33Rp 5,773
69.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$3.43Rp 60.7K
69.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.74Rp 13.2K
117.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$23.0KRp 407.0M
-0.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$22.6KRp 400.9M
18.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$39.64Rp 702.0K
64.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$6.13Rp 108.5K
390.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$11.36Rp 201.2K
227.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$19.81Rp 350.8K
201.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$8.34Rp 147.7K
218.35%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$2.91Rp 51.4K
141.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$28.48Rp 504.2K
1531.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$8,167Rp 144.6M
62.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$16.84Rp 298.1K
350.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$29.06Rp 514.5K
92.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$73.2Rp 1.3M
52.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$106Rp 1.9M
13.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$232Rp 4.1M
375.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$159Rp 2.8M
353.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$570Rp 10.1M
343.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$367Rp 6.5M
252.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$1,168Rp 20.7M
241.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$672Rp 11.9M
211.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Bandar Lampung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
9.46
19.45%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Bandar Lampung: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $232 in Bandar Lampung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $10.00 in Bandar Lampung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $197 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 183% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Bandar Lampung?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $881 in Bandar Lampung to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mexico City compared to Bandar Lampung?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $232 in Bandar Lampung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Bandar Lampung?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $28.48 in Bandar Lampung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Bandar Lampung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandar Lampung – a meal for two runs $10.00 versus $52.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Bandar Lampung?
At $587 in Bandar Lampung versus $1,660 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 $587 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 183% 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