🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Sidoarjo versus $1,481 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Sidoarjo versus $2,352 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,337 in Sidoarjo versus $3,222 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Sidoarjo costs roughly 56% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Sidoarjo is 51% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$13.16MX$230
-88.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.45Rp 223.3K
$53.6MX$937
-76.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.99Rp 53.6K
$9.55MX$167
-68.69%
Cappuccino
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$3.72MX$65.1
-84.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,356
$1.57MX$27.42
-70.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,618
$1.16MX$20.22
-77.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39Rp 43.0K
$3.18MX$55.7
-24.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89Rp 69.8K
$4.63MX$81.1
-15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.71MX$29.83
-16.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$2.62MX$45.77
-58.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$1.89MX$33.04
-50.79%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$2.60MX$45.40
-45.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24Rp 165.8K
$9.91MX$173
-6.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64Rp 47.3K
$8.22MX$144
-67.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.32Rp 113.4K
$11.78MX$206
-46.35%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$3.00MX$52.4
-68.67%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.80MX$31.48
-64.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$2.07MX$36.27
-62.80%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.97MX$34.41
-67.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 14.1K
$2.07MX$36.24
-61.84%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$2.17MX$38.04
-48.39%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30Rp 5,346
$1.40MX$24.54
-78.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,657
$1.07MX$18.80
-59.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 39.1K
$4.12MX$72.0
-47.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.74Rp 443.6K
$17.42MX$305
42.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$1.68MX$29.31
5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20Rp 57.5K
$3.65MX$63.8
-12.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,800
$0.38MX$6.65
-15.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.94Rp 178.4K
$18.71MX$327
-46.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$1.33MX$23.25
-63.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,635
$0.30MX$5.30
3.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.24Rp 22.3K
$5.51MX$96.4
-77.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$1.31MX$22.84
-41.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KRp 371.0M
$19.2KMX$335.3K
7.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KRp 624.6M
$23.7KMX$415.4K
46.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8Rp 1.5M
$41.14MX$720
98.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22Rp 75.7K
$27.74MX$485
-84.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.18Rp 218.4K
$30.13MX$527
-59.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.39Rp 419.5K
$53.7MX$940
-56.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24Rp 111.9K
$25.98MX$454
-75.98%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 51.6K
$6.49MX$114
-55.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188Rp 3.4M
$437MX$7,638
-56.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,435Rp 169.2M
$10.5KMX$182.9K
-9.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0Rp 1.1M
$58.3MX$1,020
4.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.68Rp 693.7K
$45.86MX$802
-15.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1Rp 1.4M
$101MX$1,775
-22.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4Rp 1.5M
$107MX$1,863
-22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$1,005MX$17.6K
-74.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$634MX$11.1K
-75.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$2,148MX$37.6K
-72.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$1,247MX$21.8K
-72.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,180Rp 21.2M
$3,859MX$67.5K
-69.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$703Rp 12.6M
$2,085MX$36.5K
-66.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,072MX$18.8K
-
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Sidoarjo and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Sidoarjo vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $291 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 in Mexico City?
Sidoarjo and Mexico City differ by about 126% in total monthly costs ($657 vs $1,481 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 $985 in Sidoarjo and $2,222 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 in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Sidoarjo versus $1,005 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 in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 88% 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 $188 in Sidoarjo versus $437 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 $657 in Sidoarjo versus $1,481 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 126% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.