😐A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $759 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $1,309 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $1,859 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 94% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Kuta, Lombok is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.14MX$227
$1.80Rp 32.5K
630.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5MX$926
$16.33Rp 294.7K
227.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.33MX$161
$2.44Rp 44.0K
282.38%
Cappuccino
$3.70MX$64.0
$1.42Rp 25.6K
160.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60MX$27.76
$0.67Rp 12.1K
138.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.34
$0.35Rp 6,249
220.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.14MX$54.3
$1.44Rp 26.0K
118.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.85MX$83.9
$1.97Rp 35.6K
146.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.61
$1.19Rp 21.5K
38.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$46.96
$1.71Rp 30.8K
58.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.03
$0.79Rp 14.3K
141.77%
Eggs
$2.59MX$44.81
$1.58Rp 28.6K
63.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81MX$170
$9.77Rp 176.3K
0.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43MX$146
$2.87Rp 51.7K
193.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.93MX$206
$8.20Rp 148.1K
45.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95MX$51.1
$2.52Rp 45.4K
17.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74MX$30.10
$1.08Rp 19.5K
61.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04MX$35.38
$1.80Rp 32.5K
13.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$1.54Rp 27.9K
33.77%
Potato(1kg)
$2.15MX$37.20
$1.33Rp 24.0K
61.65%
Onion(1kg)
$2.26MX$39.02
$1.53Rp 27.6K
47.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$23.97
$0.71Rp 12.8K
95.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.31
$0.49Rp 8,788
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.22MX$73.0
$2.09Rp 37.7K
101.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.51MX$303
$15.68Rp 283.1K
11.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$29.58
$1.84Rp 33.3K
-7.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63MX$62.8
$1.91Rp 34.5K
90.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35MX$6.10
$0.18Rp 3,187
94.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.32MX$334
$5.44Rp 98.3K
255.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.80
$0.32Rp 5,780
331.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.77
$0.30Rp 5,423
-6.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.28MX$91.3
$4.06Rp 73.2K
30.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36MX$23.50
$0.56Rp 10.2K
142.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.1KMX$330.5K
$16.8KRp 302.9M
13.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KMX$408.4K
$20.9KRp 377.4M
12.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.53MX$701
$60.5Rp 1.1M
-33.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.38MX$474
$2.96Rp 53.5K
825.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$526
$18.01Rp 325.2K
68.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.2MX$903
$52.6Rp 950.4K
-0.80%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.48MX$458
$3.42Rp 61.8K
674.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19MX$107
$2.17Rp 39.2K
185.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425MX$7,355
$188Rp 3.4M
125.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.7K
$4,266Rp 77.0M
151.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,009
$40.91Rp 738.5K
42.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.57MX$771
$28.81Rp 520.1K
54.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,791
$66.2Rp 1.2M
56.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,881
$60.0Rp 1.1M
81.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,014MX$17.5K
$384Rp 6.9M
163.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$260Rp 4.7M
139.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,119MX$36.7K
$1,333Rp 24.1M
58.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,223MX$21.2K
$816Rp 14.7M
49.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,792MX$65.6K
$1,082Rp 19.5M
250.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,110MX$36.5K
$879Rp 15.9M
140.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
-
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Kuta, Lombok: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $384 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $16.00 in Kuta, Lombok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $201 – 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 94% 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 $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $1,138 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 $54.0 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 $1,472 in Mexico City and $759 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 $759, than in Mexico City at $1,472. 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 $759 versus $1,472 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