😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $1,516 in Denpasar, Bali.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $2,128 in Denpasar, Bali.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 86% more expensive than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 23% above, Denpasar, Bali is 34% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$2.22Rp 39.5K
432.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$25.63Rp 455.6K
103.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$3.59Rp 63.8K
202.79%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$1.75Rp 31.1K
130.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.12Rp 20.0K
52.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.48Rp 8,553
179.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$1.76Rp 31.2K
92.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$2.84Rp 50.5K
102.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.30Rp 23.2K
45.38%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$1.85Rp 32.9K
71.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$0.84Rp 15.0K
144.05%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$1.75Rp 31.1K
72.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$14.26Rp 253.5K
-11.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$3.24Rp 57.7K
206.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$9.77Rp 173.6K
63.77%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$2.90Rp 51.5K
13.10%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$1.30Rp 23.1K
58.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$1.84Rp 32.7K
13.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$1.65Rp 29.3K
51.52%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$1.51Rp 26.9K
35.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$1.76Rp 31.4K
6.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$0.83Rp 14.8K
89.16%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$0.42Rp 7,424
230.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$1.85Rp 32.9K
190.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$18.92Rp 336.4K
-5.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$1.92Rp 34.2K
5.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$2.33Rp 41.4K
104.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$0.22Rp 3,885
63.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$7.41Rp 131.8K
180.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$0.43Rp 7,587
379.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.43Rp 7,594
30.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$3.03Rp 53.9K
92.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$0.67Rp 12.0K
129.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$22.1KRp 393.7M
1.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$28.2KRp 501.8M
-6.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$73.5Rp 1.3M
-10.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$5.84Rp 103.7K
430.48%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$16.79Rp 298.4K
115.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$39.72Rp 705.9K
44.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$12.98Rp 230.7K
106.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$3.14Rp 55.8K
127.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$382Rp 6.8M
19.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$4,482Rp 79.7M
195.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$39.48Rp 701.6K
92.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$30.40Rp 540.3K
77.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$68.0Rp 1.2M
71.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$67.5Rp 1.2M
80.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$596Rp 10.6M
92.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$359Rp 6.4M
102.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$1,828Rp 32.5M
36.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$903Rp 16.0M
47.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$1,460Rp 25.9M
166.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$1,180Rp 21.0M
82.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$276Rp 4.9M
286.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
13.78
-17.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $596 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 287% 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 $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $237 per month, with Denpasar, Bali 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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Denpasar, Bali?
Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 86% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $904 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Denpasar, Bali?
Average pay runs 287% 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 do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $596 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $1,682 per month in Mexico City versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 181% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,682 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 86% 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