😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $660 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $995 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $1,330 in Sidoarjo.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 119% more expensive than in Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Sidoarjo is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$225
$1.51Rp 26.9K
758.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$908
$12.40Rp 220.9K
322.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$168
$3.06Rp 54.5K
216.67%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.1
$0.59Rp 10.5K
535.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$27.14
$0.50Rp 8,953
212.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.10
$0.26Rp 4,610
346.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$56.3
$2.49Rp 44.3K
30.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$85.0
$3.93Rp 70.0K
24.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.54
$1.41Rp 25.2K
20.57%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$46.30
$1.08Rp 19.2K
147.22%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.77
$1.01Rp 18.0K
87.13%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.74
$1.44Rp 25.6K
75.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$174
$8.97Rp 159.9K
11.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$148
$2.51Rp 44.7K
239.84%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$207
$6.02Rp 107.3K
98.34%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.6
$1.00Rp 17.8K
197.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$31.14
$0.64Rp 11.3K
179.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.69
$0.78Rp 13.9K
156.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$34.03
$0.64Rp 11.3K
206.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.53
$0.79Rp 14.0K
173.42%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.38
$1.13Rp 20.1K
100.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.34
$0.29Rp 5,256
382.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.34
$0.45Rp 8,022
146.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.9
$2.09Rp 37.2K
100.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$287
$25.51Rp 454.6K
-35.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.19
$1.78Rp 31.7K
-5.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$62.3
$3.31Rp 59.1K
8.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.32Rp 5,772
21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$333
$9.67Rp 172.3K
98.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.98
$0.48Rp 8,560
187.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.24
$0.31Rp 5,603
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$93.5
$1.20Rp 21.3K
349.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.32
$0.79Rp 14.0K
63.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$327.9K
$21.0KRp 373.8M
-9.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$413.0K
$35.2KRp 628.2M
-32.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$692
$85.0Rp 1.5M
-53.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$483
$4.17Rp 74.4K
567.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$517
$12.16Rp 216.7K
144.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$902
$22.82Rp 406.7K
127.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$455
$6.12Rp 109.0K
328.43%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$2.89Rp 51.5K
116.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,508
$186Rp 3.3M
132.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.9K
$9,358Rp 166.8M
12.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$989
$61.5Rp 1.1M
-7.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$787
$39.23Rp 699.1K
15.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,768
$79.1Rp 1.4M
28.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,883
$83.2Rp 1.5M
30.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.2K
$253Rp 4.5M
292.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.7K
$159Rp 2.8M
286.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$36.2K
$590Rp 10.5M
253.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.8K
$327Rp 5.8M
283.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$68.3K
$1,193Rp 21.3M
230.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$36.2K
$725Rp 12.9M
188.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.6K
-
-
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 14, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $253 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $185 per month, with Sidoarjo cheaper across the board.
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 Sidoarjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sidoarjo?
Mexico City and Sidoarjo differ by about 119% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $660 including rent). Sidoarjo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Sidoarjo?
You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $990 in Sidoarjo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Sidoarjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $994 in Mexico City versus $253 in Sidoarjo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Sidoarjo?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 98% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Sidoarjo?
Childcare runs $433 in Mexico City versus $186 in Sidoarjo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $660 in Sidoarjo versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidoarjo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Sidoarjo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Sidoarjo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Sidoarjo?
Expats usually find Sidoarjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared