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 $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $537 in Magelang, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $837 in Magelang, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $1,137 in Magelang, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 209% more than Magelang, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

763.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$8.25 Rp 146.1K

525.45%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$2.73 Rp 48.3K

317.95%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

418.18%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$0.35 Rp 6,229

374.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$0.18 Rp 3,214

638.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

151.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

113.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

77.36%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

180.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

166.67%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

139.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

$6.73 Rp 119.2K

91.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

$2.41 Rp 42.7K

317.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

$7.03 Rp 124.4K

125.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

62.07%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

76.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

69.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

$0.90 Rp 16.0K

162.22%

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$1.00 Rp 17.7K

105.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$1.40 Rp 24.8K

35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

109.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$0.37 Rp 6,496

278.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

180.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$17.10 Rp 302.7K

3.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.52 Rp 26.8K

35.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

112.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.29 Rp 5,177

17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

$8.70 Rp 154.1K

139.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

$0.46 Rp 8,164

356.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

$0.35 Rp 6,219

60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

152.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$0.71 Rp 12.5K

126.76%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

$25.7K Rp 455.8M

-11.26%

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

$29.6K Rp 524.1M

-9.63%

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$46.91 Rp 830.6K

38.95%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$4.00 Rp 70.9K

652.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$19.93 Rp 352.9K

86.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

$13.84 Rp 245.1K

331.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

604.24%

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

$2.52 Rp 44.6K

179.37%

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

$465 MX$8,012

$45.71 Rp 809.3K

916.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$3,913 Rp 69.3M

239.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$20.17 Rp 357.1K

276.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$20.11 Rp 356.1K

178.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$57.9 Rp 1.0M

93.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$54.6 Rp 966.4K

120.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$232 Rp 4.1M

375.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$158 Rp 2.8M

356.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$568 Rp 10.1M

345.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$373 Rp 6.6M

247.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$1,201 Rp 21.3M

232.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$664 Rp 11.8M

214.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$178 Rp 3.2M

481.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

7.5

50.67%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Magelang: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $232 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 482% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $8.00 in Magelang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $170 – 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: $1,660 in Mexico City, $537 in Magelang – roughly 209% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $806 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 103% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City and $8.00 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 $537, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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 $537 in Magelang 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 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.