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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,447 per month in Mexico City vs $578 in Magelang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,310 per month in Mexico City vs $892 in Magelang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,174 per month in Mexico City vs $1,206 in Magelang, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 150% more than Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 8% above the global median, while Magelang is 57% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

765.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$9.40 Rp 168.4K

459.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$2.96 Rp 53.1K

218.58%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

320.00%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$0.38 Rp 6,881

323.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$0.16 Rp 2,954

618.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

115.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$2.93 Rp 52.4K

65.87%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.10 Rp 19.7K

54.55%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

118.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

118.39%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

69.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$7.17 Rp 128.4K

40.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$2.64 Rp 47.4K

214.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$7.81 Rp 139.8K

48.14%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$2.26 Rp 40.6K

34.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

37.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$1.39 Rp 24.9K

47.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

103.96%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

92.52%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

45.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

64.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$0.40 Rp 7,119

180.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

68.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$16.80 Rp 301.1K

-8.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$1.70 Rp 30.4K

-1.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

53.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$0.33 Rp 5,831

15.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$9.90 Rp 177.4K

92.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$0.44 Rp 7,895

213.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$0.29 Rp 5,176

-3.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$2.39 Rp 42.8K

126.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

66.23%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$28.7K Rp 513.8M

-33.82%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$31.7K Rp 567.5M

-25.93%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$50.7 Rp 908.4K

-19.09%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$4.18 Rp 74.9K

544.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$19.23 Rp 344.5K

54.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$14.85 Rp 266.0K

252.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

$3.90 Rp 69.9K

572.56%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

128.04%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$49.85 Rp 893.1K

756.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$4,285 Rp 76.8M

149.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$21.81 Rp 390.7K

160.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$21.16 Rp 379.2K

111.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$64.1 Rp 1.1M

63.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$58.6 Rp 1.1M

80.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$259 Rp 4.6M

283.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$160 Rp 2.9M

288.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$575 Rp 10.3M

269.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$337 Rp 6.0M

272.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$1,146 Rp 20.5M

240.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$678 Rp 12.1M

209.25%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$169 Rp 3.0M

554.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

8.33

36.13%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Magelang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $259 in Magelang. 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 554% higher in Mexico City, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City versus $9.00 in Magelang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $181 – making Magelang 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 Magelang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City, $578 in Magelang – roughly 150% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $867 in Magelang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 59% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Mexico City and $9.00 in Magelang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Magelang, where all-in costs run around $578, than in Mexico City at $1,447. In Magelang 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 $578 in Magelang to $1,447 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 Magelang. 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.