😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $652 in Yogyakarta.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,012 in Yogyakarta.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $1,371 in Yogyakarta.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 125% more expensive than Yogyakarta, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Yogyakarta is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$1.41Rp 25.2K
834.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$9.01Rp 161.6K
498.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$3.12Rp 55.9K
201.92%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$1.46Rp 26.1K
143.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$0.53Rp 9,555
205.66%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.28Rp 5,073
296.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.43Rp 43.6K
28.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$3.30Rp 59.2K
40.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.22Rp 22.0K
39.34%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.37Rp 24.5K
98.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$0.82Rp 14.8K
132.93%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.33Rp 23.8K
90.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$7.10Rp 127.3K
41.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$3.28Rp 58.9K
146.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$8.13Rp 145.8K
42.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$2.37Rp 42.4K
25.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$1.46Rp 26.1K
23.97%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$1.36Rp 24.4K
47.79%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$1.03Rp 18.5K
97.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$1.08Rp 19.3K
96.30%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.74Rp 31.2K
30.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$0.46Rp 8,187
204.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.39Rp 6,934
189.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$2.53Rp 45.4K
68.77%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$16.85Rp 302.0K
-7.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.77Rp 31.8K
-0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$3.30Rp 59.1K
9.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$0.21Rp 3,755
80.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$9.79Rp 175.5K
95.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$0.47Rp 8,428
193.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$0.31Rp 5,574
-9.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$4.19Rp 75.0K
30.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$0.82Rp 14.6K
58.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$19.2KRp 344.5M
-2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$27.1KRp 486.6M
-14.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$73.7Rp 1.3M
-44.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$4.31Rp 77.3K
522.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$19.59Rp 351.1K
52.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$15.17Rp 272.0K
242.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$3.05Rp 54.7K
780.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$2.82Rp 50.5K
123.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$72.5Rp 1.3M
501.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$4,468Rp 80.1M
133.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$34.45Rp 617.5K
64.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$30.38Rp 544.6K
46.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$77.2Rp 1.4M
33.39%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$82.6Rp 1.5M
27.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$194Rp 3.5M
426.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$171Rp 3.1M
269.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$782Rp 14.0M
173.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$386Rp 6.9M
222.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$1,652Rp 29.6M
136.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$223Rp 4.0M
826.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Yogyakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$213Rp 3.8M
422.64%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yogyakarta: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $194 in Yogyakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 423% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $9.00 in Yogyakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $190 per month, with Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Yogyakarta?
Mexico City and Yogyakarta differ by about 125% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $652 including rent). Yogyakarta is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Mexico City or Yogyakarta?
Mexico City pays 423% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Yogyakarta?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $194 in Yogyakarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Yogyakarta?
A monthly transit pass in Yogyakarta runs roughly 96% 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 Yogyakarta?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $72.5 in Yogyakarta. 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 $652 in Yogyakarta versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yogyakarta but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yogyakarta the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Yogyakarta?
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.
Is Mexico City or Yogyakarta safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Yogyakarta are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Yogyakarta?
Expats usually find Yogyakarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 125% 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