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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $537 in Langkawi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $773 in Langkawi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,008 in Langkawi, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 209% more than Langkawi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Langkawi is 61% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$3.27 MYR 13.37

264.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$19.87 MYR 81.1

159.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$6.53 MYR 26.64

74.73%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$1.66 MYR 6.78

140.36%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$0.85 MYR 3.47

95.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$0.58 MYR 2.37

129.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$1.76 MYR 7.20

97.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$2.17 MYR 8.86

171.89%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.77 MYR 7.22

6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$1.26 MYR 5.13

157.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$1.80 MYR 7.36

61.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$17.47 MYR 71.3

-26.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$1.93 MYR 7.88

70.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$0.94 MYR 3.83

113.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$1.74 MYR 7.11

26.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$1.73 MYR 7.07

36.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$0.71 MYR 2.89

167.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$3.62 MYR 14.79

50.83%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$8.61 MYR 35.15

104.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$0.94 MYR 3.83

119.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$1.27 MYR 5.17

268.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.73 MYR 2.99

120.55%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$24.6K MYR 100.6K

-7.28%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$36.94 MYR 151

76.45%

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

$30.09 MX$519

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$24.64 MYR 101

142.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

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

$465 MX$8,012

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$307 MYR 1,254

258.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$249 MYR 1,015

189.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$364 MYR 1,485

595.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$326 MYR 1,329

297.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$1,146 MYR 4,677

248.42%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$1,236 MYR 5,046

-16.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Langkawi: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $307 in Langkawi. 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 19% higher in Langkawi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $20.00 in Langkawi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $147 – making Langkawi 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 Langkawi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City, $537 in Langkawi – roughly 209% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $806 in Langkawi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $20.00 in Langkawi. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $537 in Langkawi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Langkawi, where all-in costs run around $537, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Langkawi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $537 in Langkawi to $1,660 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Langkawi. 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.