😐A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $752 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $1,321 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,889 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 92% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Kuta, Lombok is 44% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$1.80Rp 32.3K
621.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$16.09Rp 288.2K
226.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$2.44Rp 43.8K
286.48%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$1.36Rp 24.4K
162.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$0.65Rp 11.6K
147.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$0.37Rp 6,652
210.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$1.49Rp 26.7K
111.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$1.99Rp 35.6K
144.22%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$1.21Rp 21.7K
40.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$1.62Rp 29.0K
62.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$0.80Rp 14.4K
137.50%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$1.63Rp 29.3K
55.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$9.52Rp 170.6K
5.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$2.81Rp 50.3K
195.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$8.13Rp 145.6K
42.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$2.53Rp 45.4K
19.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$1.08Rp 19.3K
58.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$1.85Rp 33.2K
10.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$1.57Rp 28.1K
31.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$1.32Rp 23.6K
56.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$1.52Rp 27.2K
42.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$0.67Rp 12.0K
108.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$0.51Rp 9,161
119.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$2.19Rp 39.3K
95.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$15.17Rp 271.9K
1.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$1.85Rp 33.1K
-9.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$1.90Rp 34.0K
94.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$0.20Rp 3,533
90.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$5.45Rp 97.7K
249.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$0.30Rp 5,345
360.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$0.28Rp 4,971
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$3.91Rp 70.0K
38.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$0.56Rp 9,963
128.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$17.2KRp 307.8M
10.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$20.7KRp 371.5M
13.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$59.8Rp 1.1M
-31.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$3.09Rp 55.3K
771.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$18.25Rp 327.0K
62.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$53.2Rp 953.1K
-1.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$3.54Rp 63.5K
640.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$2.23Rp 39.9K
177.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$192Rp 3.4M
122.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$4,261Rp 76.3M
151.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$41.43Rp 742.3K
37.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$28.93Rp 518.3K
54.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$68.1Rp 1.2M
53.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$59.3Rp 1.1M
78.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$385Rp 6.9M
158.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$261Rp 4.7M
137.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$1,321Rp 23.7M
60.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$815Rp 14.6M
53.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$1,101Rp 19.7M
254.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$866Rp 15.5M
142.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
-
-
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Kuta, Lombok: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $385 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $16.00 in Kuta, Lombok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $199 – 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 92% 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 vs Kuta, Lombok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $1,128 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 vs Kuta, Lombok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $16.00 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $752 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 Kuta, Lombok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Mexico City at $1,447. 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 $752 versus $1,447 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 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