🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $654 in Sidoarjo versus $1,447 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $995 in Sidoarjo versus $2,310 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,336 in Sidoarjo versus $3,174 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Sidoarjo costs roughly 55% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sidoarjo is 51% below, Mexico City is 8% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$12.98MX$227
-87.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.08Rp 219.0K
$52.6MX$918
-77.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 55.3K
$9.43MX$165
-67.66%
Cappuccino
$0.63Rp 11.4K
$3.57MX$62.3
-82.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,182
$1.61MX$28.02
-68.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,108
$1.15MX$20.14
-75.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.47Rp 44.9K
$3.15MX$55.0
-21.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 70.8K
$4.86MX$84.8
-19.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.43Rp 26.0K
$1.70MX$29.66
-15.88%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.5K
$2.64MX$45.99
-57.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$1.90MX$33.22
-51.05%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 27.1K
$2.54MX$44.35
-41.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.47Rp 171.7K
$10.08MX$176
-6.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.63Rp 47.7K
$8.29MX$145
-68.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99Rp 108.7K
$11.57MX$202
-48.23%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$3.03MX$52.8
-68.32%
Banana(1kg)
$0.58Rp 10.6K
$1.71MX$29.85
-66.08%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 14.0K
$2.05MX$35.76
-62.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$2.06MX$35.95
-68.93%
Potato(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.9K
$2.06MX$36.03
-60.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.7K
$2.17MX$37.87
-47.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.32Rp 5,822
$1.40MX$24.49
-77.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,725
$1.12MX$19.58
-61.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17Rp 39.3K
$4.29MX$74.9
-49.42%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.30Rp 440.7K
$15.41MX$269
57.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Rp 32.6K
$1.67MX$29.23
7.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 57.0K
$3.69MX$64.3
-14.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,370
$0.38MX$6.66
-21.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 181.6K
$19.06MX$333
-47.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 8,000
$1.38MX$24.10
-68.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,652
$0.28MX$4.82
10.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.21Rp 22.0K
$5.42MX$94.5
-77.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.0K
$1.28MX$22.35
-35.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 381.1M
$19.0KMX$331.3K
10.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KRp 627.7M
$23.5KMX$409.5K
47.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$41.02MX$716
103.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 75.7K
$26.92MX$470
-84.51%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.45Rp 225.8K
$29.69MX$518
-58.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.42Rp 424.8K
$52.3MX$913
-55.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.9K
$26.23MX$458
-77.13%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 52.3K
$6.18MX$108
-53.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.5M
$427MX$7,454
-55.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,550Rp 173.2M
$10.7KMX$186.7K
-10.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.9Rp 1.1M
$56.8MX$992
8.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.38Rp 696.0K
$44.83MX$782
-14.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.3Rp 1.4M
$105MX$1,824
-26.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$106MX$1,849
-21.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.6M
$995MX$17.4K
-74.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$621MX$10.8K
-74.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.7M
$2,126MX$37.1K
-72.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330Rp 6.0M
$1,254MX$21.9K
-73.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,187Rp 21.5M
$3,903MX$68.1K
-69.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$728Rp 13.2M
$2,096MX$36.6K
-65.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,107MX$19.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
11.34
-26.54%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidoarjo: June 6, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $256 in Sidoarjo and $995 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Sidoarjo vs $53.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $288 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
Sidoarjo vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Sidoarjo and Mexico City?
Sidoarjo and Mexico City differ by about 121% in total monthly costs ($654 vs $1,447 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 Sidoarjo compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $981 in Sidoarjo and $2,171 in Mexico City 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 Sidoarjo and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $256 in Sidoarjo versus $995 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Sidoarjo and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 90% 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 Sidoarjo and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $192 in Sidoarjo versus $427 in Mexico City. 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 $654 in Sidoarjo versus $1,447 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 Sidoarjo and Mexico City?
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: Sidoarjo or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Sidoarjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 121% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.