😐A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $718 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,200 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,682 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 131% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Kuta, Lombok is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$1.74Rp 30.8K
585.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$889
$17.88Rp 317.0K
188.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$2.86Rp 50.7K
298.95%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.8
$1.40Rp 24.8K
185.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.57
$0.86Rp 15.2K
93.02%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.84
$0.40Rp 7,157
232.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.8
$1.46Rp 25.8K
137.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$2.24Rp 39.7K
163.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.31
$1.08Rp 19.2K
74.07%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.0
$1.48Rp 26.2K
119.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$0.79Rp 14.0K
173.42%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.87
$1.41Rp 24.9K
105.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$11.57Rp 205.1K
11.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$2.71Rp 48.0K
270.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$8.10Rp 143.7K
95.80%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.7
$2.41Rp 42.7K
36.51%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.55
$1.04Rp 18.4K
93.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.88
$1.59Rp 28.3K
38.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.57
$1.35Rp 24.0K
74.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.38
$1.24Rp 22.0K
65.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.75
$1.58Rp 28.1K
20.25%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.64
$0.71Rp 12.6K
126.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.05
$0.33Rp 5,913
324.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.1
$1.49Rp 26.5K
266.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$15.30Rp 271.3K
15.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.39
$1.61Rp 28.5K
27.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.7
$1.99Rp 35.4K
135.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.83
$0.16Rp 2,914
112.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$358
$5.43Rp 96.3K
283.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.11
$0.30Rp 5,301
600.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.63
$0.28Rp 4,889
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$3.95Rp 70.1K
47.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.65
$0.49Rp 8,665
228.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.3K
$16.1KRp 285.9M
41.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$460.6K
$20.7KRp 366.9M
29.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,122
$61.7Rp 1.1M
5.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$518
$4.93Rp 87.4K
510.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$640
$14.23Rp 252.5K
161.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,029
$30.47Rp 540.5K
96.13%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$457
$10.06Rp 178.5K
163.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$2.33Rp 41.4K
202.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,001
$315Rp 5.6M
47.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.6K
$3,686Rp 65.4M
260.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,307
$35.93Rp 637.3K
111.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$963
$27.41Rp 486.2K
104.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,926
$60.6Rp 1.1M
84.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,075
$61.8Rp 1.1M
94.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$452Rp 8.0M
143.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$270Rp 4.8M
166.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,401Rp 24.8M
80.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$671Rp 11.9M
92.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.7K
$1,100Rp 19.5M
262.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$915Rp 16.2M
128.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
13.78
-18.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kuta, Lombok: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $452 in Kuta, Lombok. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $195 – making Kuta, Lombok 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 Kuta, Lombok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mexico City or Kuta, Lombok?
Mexico City costs about 131% more than Kuta, Lombok, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mexico City and in Kuta, Lombok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,077 in Kuta, Lombok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Mexico City or Kuta, Lombok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Lombok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Mexico City and in Kuta, Lombok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Mexico City compared to Kuta, Lombok?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $718 in Kuta, Lombok. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Mexico City or in Kuta, Lombok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Kuta, Lombok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mexico City or Kuta, Lombok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuta, Lombok costs $718 versus $1,660 in Mexico City. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Mexico City compared to Kuta, Lombok?
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.
Should I move to Mexico City or to Kuta, Lombok?
If budget matters most, go with Kuta, Lombok. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared