😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $668 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $1,010 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,353 in Sidoarjo.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 122% more expensive than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 11% above, Sidoarjo is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$1.51Rp 26.2K
759.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$12.16Rp 210.7K
336.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$3.03Rp 52.6K
220.79%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$0.59Rp 10.2K
535.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$0.47Rp 8,162
234.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$0.26Rp 4,468
334.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$2.44Rp 42.3K
30.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$4.02Rp 69.7K
15.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$1.37Rp 23.8K
18.25%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$1.14Rp 19.7K
137.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$1.01Rp 17.6K
86.14%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$1.44Rp 25.0K
74.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$9.11Rp 157.9K
10.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$2.52Rp 43.6K
228.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$5.97Rp 103.4K
100.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$0.94Rp 16.2K
204.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$0.59Rp 10.2K
196.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$0.79Rp 13.6K
163.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$0.60Rp 10.4K
228.33%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$0.83Rp 14.4K
160.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$1.12Rp 19.5K
94.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$0.32Rp 5,558
334.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$0.43Rp 7,412
160.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$2.12Rp 36.8K
98.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$26.21Rp 454.2K
-45.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$1.78Rp 30.9K
-1.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$3.31Rp 57.3K
11.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.32Rp 5,586
21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$9.66Rp 167.4K
93.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$0.45Rp 7,779
208.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$0.31Rp 5,408
-3.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$1.26Rp 21.8K
330.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$0.79Rp 13.7K
70.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$20.9KRp 361.5M
-9.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$34.7KRp 601.8M
-33.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$82.5Rp 1.4M
-50.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$4.25Rp 73.6K
547.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$12.12Rp 210.0K
150.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$23.33Rp 404.3K
129.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$5.99Rp 103.9K
339.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$2.97Rp 51.6K
111.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$189Rp 3.3M
130.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$9,440Rp 163.6M
10.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$62.6Rp 1.1M
-9.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$39.43Rp 683.4K
13.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$77.1Rp 1.3M
33.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$84.2Rp 1.5M
28.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$259Rp 4.5M
285.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$156Rp 2.7M
297.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$582Rp 10.1M
267.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$329Rp 5.7M
275.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$1,242Rp 21.5M
211.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$762Rp 13.2M
206.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $259 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $186 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 Sidoarjo?
Mexico City and Sidoarjo differ by about 122% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $668 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 $2,225 in Mexico City and $1,002 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 Sidoarjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $259 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 Sidoarjo?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 93% 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 $436 in Mexico City versus $189 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 $668 in Sidoarjo versus $1,484 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 122% 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