Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Karawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Karawang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,591 per month in Mexico City vs $445 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,478 per month in Mexico City vs $803 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,365 per month in Mexico City vs $1,161 in Karawang, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 257% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 18% above the global median, while Karawang is 67% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.06 MX$219

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

749.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$50.8 MX$923

$11.15 Rp 199.5K

355.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.90 MX$198

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

219.65%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$68.2

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

160.42%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 MX$29.28

$0.40 Rp 7,234

302.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 MX$23.89

$0.19 Rp 3,321

594.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 MX$61.1

$3.11 Rp 55.7K

8.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.69 MX$103

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

88.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 MX$32.14

$1.13 Rp 20.1K

56.64%

White Bread (500g)

$3.08 MX$55.9

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

199.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 MX$35.70

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

126.44%

Eggs

$2.79 MX$50.7

$1.48 Rp 26.5K

88.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.92 MX$216

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

327.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.40 MX$171

$2.84 Rp 50.8K

230.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.30 MX$278

$7.81 Rp 139.8K

95.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.16 MX$57.3

$1.76 Rp 31.4K

79.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 MX$35.96

$1.08 Rp 19.3K

83.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.07 MX$37.60

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

62.99%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 MX$42.26

$0.48 Rp 8,633

385.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.07 MX$37.57

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

132.58%

Onion (1kg)

$1.92 MX$34.91

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

27.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 MX$27.67

$0.68 Rp 12.2K

123.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 MX$24.05

$0.42 Rp 7,569

214.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 MX$95.5

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

91.27%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.84 MX$306

$22.55 Rp 403.6K

-25.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 MX$35.43

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

4.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 MX$79.4

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

32.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$6.20

$0.59 Rp 10.6K

-42.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.99 MX$363

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.98 MX$35.87

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

132.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.57 MX$10.42

$0.52 Rp 9,294

9.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$98.5

$1.13 Rp 20.3K

379.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 MX$27.74

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

91.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.5K MX$390.2K

$21.0K Rp 374.9M

2.55%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.3K MX$460.0K

$28.5K Rp 510.6M

-11.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$61.5 MX$1,117

$33.85 Rp 605.7K

81.74%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.38 MX$497

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

545.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.93 MX$634

$12.59 Rp 225.2K

177.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$56.8 MX$1,032

$20.24 Rp 362.2K

180.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$25.27 MX$459

$8.43 Rp 150.8K

199.76%

Cinema Ticket

$6.84 MX$124

$2.82 Rp 50.4K

142.55%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$438 MX$7,958

$43.23 Rp 773.5K

913.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.8K MX$233.2K

$8,186 Rp 146.5M

56.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 MX$1,293

$16.40 Rp 293.5K

334.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 MX$976

$27.34 Rp 489.2K

96.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MX$1,983

$48.10 Rp 860.6K

127.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 MX$2,120

$48.99 Rp 876.6K

138.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,050 MX$19.1K

$137 Rp 2.5M

666.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$686 MX$12.5K

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

892.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,410 MX$43.8K

$552 Rp 9.9M

336.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,258 MX$22.8K

$367 Rp 6.6M

242.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,814 MX$69.2K

$1,171 Rp 20.9M

225.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,994 MX$36.2K

$606 Rp 10.9M

228.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$998 MX$18.1K

$401 Rp 7.2M

149.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

11.38

-0.70%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 26, 2026

Last update for Karawang: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,050 in Mexico City versus $137 in Karawang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 149% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Mexico City versus $11.00 in Karawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $328 vs $174 – making Karawang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Karawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City costs about 257% more than Karawang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,386 per month in Mexico City and $668 in Karawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,591 in Mexico City and $445 in Karawang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $438 per month in Mexico City and $43.23 in Karawang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Karawang, where all-in costs run around $445, than in Mexico City at $1,591. In Karawang it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karawang costs $445 versus $1,591 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Karawang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.