😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $597 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $961 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,326 in Cimahi.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 178% more expensive than in Cimahi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Cimahi is 56% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$1.66Rp 29.4K
618.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$14.29Rp 253.0K
261.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$3.49Rp 61.8K
226.93%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$1.58Rp 27.9K
152.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$0.46Rp 8,163
260.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.23Rp 4,052
478.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$2.76Rp 48.8K
25.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$3.07Rp 54.3K
92.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.13Rp 20.0K
66.37%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.03Rp 18.3K
215.53%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$0.83Rp 14.7K
160.24%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$1.50Rp 26.5K
93.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$7.33Rp 129.8K
75.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$2.88Rp 51.1K
248.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$7.80Rp 138.2K
103.33%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$2.23Rp 39.6K
47.53%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.13Rp 19.9K
77.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$1.55Rp 27.4K
41.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$0.98Rp 17.4K
140.82%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$1.08Rp 19.1K
89.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$1.90Rp 33.6K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.70Rp 12.5K
130.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.43Rp 7,642
225.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$2.77Rp 49.0K
97.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$21.11Rp 373.8K
-16.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$1.88Rp 33.2K
9.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$3.09Rp 54.7K
51.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.29Rp 5,093
17.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$0.52Rp 9,288
303.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.35Rp 6,217
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$2.37Rp 41.9K
145.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.84Rp 14.9K
91.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$21.3KRp 377.1M
7.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$29.1KRp 516.1M
-8.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$34.20Rp 605.5K
90.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$4.42Rp 78.3K
580.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$19.15Rp 339.0K
94.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$20.00Rp 354.1K
198.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$8.37Rp 148.3K
217.20%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$2.76Rp 48.8K
155.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$95.9Rp 1.7M
384.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$8,308Rp 147.1M
59.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$40.42Rp 715.7K
87.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$29.43Rp 521.2K
90.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$74.3Rp 1.3M
50.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$70.8Rp 1.3M
70.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$218Rp 3.9M
404.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$138Rp 2.4M
421.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$632Rp 11.2M
300.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$321Rp 5.7M
303.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$1,138Rp 20.2M
250.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$739Rp 13.1M
182.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$258Rp 4.6M
302.10%
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 Cimahi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $218 in Cimahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 302% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $14.00 in Cimahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $193 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 178% 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 302% 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: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $218 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mexico City or in Cimahi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Cimahi?
All in, you'll spend $1,660 per month in Mexico City versus $597 in Cimahi – a 178% 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 in Cimahi?
At $597 in Cimahi versus $1,660 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 $597 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 178% 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