😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $637 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $974 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,312 in Cimahi.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 133% more expensive than Cimahi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Cimahi is 52% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$1.26Rp 21.9K
930.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$8.97Rp 155.5K
491.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.34Rp 57.8K
191.02%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.52Rp 26.3K
146.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.53Rp 9,116
196.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.27Rp 4,708
318.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.79Rp 48.3K
13.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$3.43Rp 59.5K
35.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.21Rp 21.0K
33.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.12Rp 19.5K
141.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$0.93Rp 16.2K
102.15%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.54Rp 26.8K
62.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$6.63Rp 114.9K
52.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$3.12Rp 54.1K
165.71%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$7.55Rp 130.9K
58.15%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.37Rp 41.1K
20.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.29Rp 22.4K
35.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.65Rp 28.6K
26.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.52Rp 26.3K
29.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.46Rp 25.3K
47.95%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$2.55Rp 44.2K
-14.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.95Rp 16.5K
46.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.42Rp 7,336
166.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.59Rp 44.9K
62.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$22.54Rp 390.7K
-36.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$2.04Rp 35.3K
-13.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.22Rp 55.8K
14.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.32Rp 5,626
21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$9.63Rp 167.0K
93.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.54Rp 9,291
157.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.35Rp 6,065
-14.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$2.59Rp 44.9K
109.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.78Rp 13.5K
73.08%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$24.4KRp 423.3M
-22.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$25.5KRp 441.5M
-9.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$44.37Rp 769.0K
-8.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$4.63Rp 80.2K
493.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$23.04Rp 399.4K
31.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$23.43Rp 406.1K
128.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$5.97Rp 103.5K
340.54%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$3.09Rp 53.6K
102.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$93.7Rp 1.6M
365.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$7,730Rp 134.0M
35.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$41.59Rp 720.9K
36.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$30.49Rp 528.4K
46.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$59.7Rp 1.0M
72.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$65.3Rp 1.1M
65.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$262Rp 4.5M
282.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$157Rp 2.7M
295.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$591Rp 10.2M
261.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$340Rp 5.9M
262.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$266Rp 4.6M
301.94%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Cimahi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $262 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $9.00 in Cimahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $205 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 133% 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 Cimahi?
Mexico City pays 302% 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 Cimahi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $262 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Mexico City vs Cimahi?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 94% 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 Cimahi?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $93.7 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 Cimahi?
At $637 in Cimahi versus $1,484 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 $637 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 133% 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