😐A single person spends $1,484 per month in Mexico City vs $735 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,381 per month in Mexico City vs $1,309 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,278 per month in Mexico City vs $1,884 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 102% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 11% above the global median, while Kuta, Lombok is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$1.71Rp 29.6K
659.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$16.02Rp 277.7K
231.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$2.43Rp 42.1K
300.00%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$1.41Rp 24.4K
165.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.67Rp 11.6K
134.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.37Rp 6,426
205.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$1.44Rp 24.9K
120.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$2.00Rp 34.6K
133.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.16Rp 20.0K
39.66%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.68Rp 29.2K
61.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$0.77Rp 13.3K
144.16%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.58Rp 27.4K
58.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.69Rp 168.0K
4.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$2.82Rp 48.8K
193.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$7.79Rp 135.0K
53.27%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$2.45Rp 42.5K
16.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$1.04Rp 18.0K
68.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$1.83Rp 31.7K
13.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$1.51Rp 26.2K
30.46%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$1.33Rp 23.0K
62.41%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.52Rp 26.4K
43.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.68Rp 11.7K
104.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.48Rp 8,355
133.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.13Rp 37.0K
97.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$15.75Rp 272.9K
-9.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.84Rp 31.9K
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$1.85Rp 32.1K
98.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.20Rp 3,462
95.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$5.51Rp 95.5K
238.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.32Rp 5,570
334.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.28Rp 4,839
7.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$3.96Rp 68.6K
36.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.57Rp 9,793
136.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$17.3KRp 299.8M
9.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$20.8KRp 361.0M
11.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$59.0Rp 1.0M
-30.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$2.97Rp 51.5K
825.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$18.18Rp 315.1K
67.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$53.6Rp 928.2K
-0.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$3.41Rp 59.2K
671.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$2.19Rp 37.9K
186.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$187Rp 3.2M
132.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$4,210Rp 73.0M
148.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$41.46Rp 718.7K
36.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$29.52Rp 511.7K
51.73%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$67.5Rp 1.2M
52.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$59.5Rp 1.0M
81.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$392Rp 6.8M
154.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$261Rp 4.5M
137.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$1,348Rp 23.4M
58.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$820Rp 14.2M
50.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,173Rp 20.3M
229.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$932Rp 16.2M
150.22%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
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 Kuta, Lombok: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,000 in Mexico City versus $392 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: $286 vs $198 – 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 102% 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 $2,225 per month in Mexico City and $1,103 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 $1,484 in Mexico City and $735 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 $735, than in Mexico City at $1,484. 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 $735 versus $1,484 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