😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $626 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $963 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,300 in Cimahi.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 135% more expensive than in Cimahi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Cimahi is 53% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$1.27Rp 22.9K
934.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$9.43Rp 170.2K
467.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$3.44Rp 62.1K
171.22%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$1.55Rp 28.0K
138.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.52Rp 9,462
207.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.27Rp 4,896
314.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$2.68Rp 48.4K
17.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$3.60Rp 65.0K
34.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.22Rp 22.1K
35.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.11Rp 20.0K
144.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$0.87Rp 15.7K
119.54%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.52Rp 27.5K
70.39%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$6.58Rp 118.8K
49.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$3.00Rp 54.1K
181.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$7.87Rp 142.1K
51.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.27Rp 41.0K
29.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.28Rp 23.1K
35.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.64Rp 29.6K
24.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.55Rp 28.0K
32.90%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.43Rp 25.7K
50.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$2.62Rp 47.4K
-13.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.91Rp 16.5K
52.75%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.43Rp 7,680
160.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$2.60Rp 47.0K
62.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$20.67Rp 373.2K
-15.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$2.03Rp 36.6K
-15.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$3.19Rp 57.6K
13.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.30Rp 5,406
16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$10.05Rp 181.5K
92.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$0.54Rp 9,744
155.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.38Rp 6,809
-26.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$2.50Rp 45.2K
111.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$0.82Rp 14.8K
65.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$24.2KRp 437.5M
-21.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$26.1KRp 470.6M
-9.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$43.95Rp 793.5K
-7.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$4.58Rp 82.7K
497.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$22.97Rp 414.7K
32.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$23.39Rp 422.2K
123.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$6.05Rp 109.3K
337.69%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$3.08Rp 55.7K
100.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$94.8Rp 1.7M
348.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$7,589Rp 137.0M
41.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$41.30Rp 745.6K
41.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$30.90Rp 557.9K
44.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$59.4Rp 1.1M
74.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$64.8Rp 1.2M
67.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$261Rp 4.7M
287.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$158Rp 2.9M
292.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$584Rp 10.5M
262.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$333Rp 6.0M
267.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
$245Rp 4.4M
328.89%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Cimahi: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,014 in Mexico City and $261 in Cimahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 329% 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 $9.00 in Cimahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $293 vs $201 per month, with Cimahi 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 Cimahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Cimahi?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 135% lower than in Mexico City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimahi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mexico City or in Cimahi?
Average pay runs 329% higher in Mexico City, 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 compared to Cimahi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,014 in Mexico City versus $261 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City compared to Cimahi?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 92% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Mexico City and in Cimahi?
Childcare runs $425 in Mexico City versus $94.8 in Cimahi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Cimahi?
At $626 in Cimahi versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Cimahi but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Cimahi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Cimahi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimahi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimahi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% 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