Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 58% more expensive than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Denpasar, Bali is 30% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$2.38 Rp 41.3K
445.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$21.86 Rp 379.0K
142.77%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$3.30 Rp 57.2K
194.55%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$1.90 Rp 33.0K
97.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$0.89 Rp 15.4K
76.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$0.49 Rp 8,522
130.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$1.95 Rp 33.8K
63.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$2.51 Rp 43.6K
85.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$1.41 Rp 24.4K
14.89%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$2.04 Rp 35.4K
32.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$0.96 Rp 16.7K
95.83%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$2.00 Rp 34.7K
25.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$11.70 Rp 202.8K
-13.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$3.43 Rp 59.4K
141.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$9.53 Rp 165.2K
25.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$3.10 Rp 53.8K
-7.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$1.26 Rp 21.8K
38.89%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$2.29 Rp 39.6K
-9.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
5.35%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$1.62 Rp 28.0K
33.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$1.78 Rp 30.9K
22.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$0.81 Rp 14.0K
71.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$0.58 Rp 9,999
93.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$2.64 Rp 45.8K
59.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$19.10 Rp 331.1K
-25.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$2.32 Rp 40.1K
-24.14%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$2.26 Rp 39.1K
62.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$0.26 Rp 4,527
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$7.43 Rp 128.7K
151.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$0.40 Rp 6,918
247.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$0.41 Rp 7,189
-26.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$5.40 Rp 93.6K
0.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$0.76 Rp 13.2K
77.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$23.2K Rp 402.6M
-18.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$28.4K Rp 492.9M
-18.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.82 MX$714
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
-44.24%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$3.67 Rp 63.7K
649.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$21.40 Rp 370.9K
41.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$69.5 Rp 1.2M
-23.13%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$4.67 Rp 80.9K
463.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$2.81 Rp 48.7K
123.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$234 Rp 4.1M
86.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$5,114 Rp 88.6M
104.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$46.27 Rp 801.9K
22.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$32.20 Rp 558.1K
39.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$74.0 Rp 1.3M
38.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$67.2 Rp 1.2M
60.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$512 Rp 8.9M
95.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$344 Rp 6.0M
80.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$1,804 Rp 31.3M
18.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$1,064 Rp 18.4M
16.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$1,591 Rp 27.6M
142.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$1,226 Rp 21.2M
90.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$293 Rp 5.1M
264.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
13.28
-14.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $512 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 265% 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 $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $242 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 Denpasar, Bali?
Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 58% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $940 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?
Mexico City pays 265% 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 do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $512 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 $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali – a 58% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 151% 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 $940 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,484 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 58% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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