🙂A single person spends $1,541 per month in Daegu vs $1,646 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Daegu vs $2,613 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,102 per month in Daegu vs $3,580 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂Daegu is about 6% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Daegu and Mexico City sit above the global median – Daegu by 12%, Mexico City by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38₩12.7K
$12.11MX$206
-22.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.70₩49.9K
$52.2MX$887
-29.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.51₩7,490
$10.90MX$185
-49.45%
Cappuccino
$3.88₩5,280
$4.05MX$68.8
-4.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61₩2,183
$1.72MX$29.13
-6.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83₩1,122
$1.38MX$23.40
-39.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56₩4,839
$3.47MX$58.9
2.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.25₩7,143
$5.81MX$98.7
-9.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.35₩3,199
$1.85MX$31.48
27.03%
White Bread(500g)
$4.46₩6,063
$3.22MX$54.7
38.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.61₩3,553
$2.09MX$35.42
24.88%
Eggs
$2.79₩3,789
$2.91MX$49.41
-4.12%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64₩13.1K
$12.49MX$212
-22.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.94₩9,434
$10.11MX$172
-31.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.85₩28.3K
$15.89MX$270
31.21%
Apples(1kg)
$6.39₩8,693
$3.31MX$56.3
93.05%
Banana(1kg)
$2.71₩3,679
$2.13MX$36.12
27.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.50₩7,473
$2.19MX$37.20
151.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.57₩7,572
$2.45MX$41.57
127.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.56₩3,475
$2.19MX$37.18
16.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.07₩2,819
$1.90MX$32.35
8.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$4.25₩5,778
$1.62MX$27.44
162.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.29₩1,758
$1.35MX$22.92
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96₩4,022
$5.43MX$92.1
-45.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.59₩19.8K
$17.59MX$299
-17.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10₩2,850
$2.07MX$35.12
1.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38₩3,242
$4.75MX$80.6
-49.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.11₩1,515
$0.34MX$5.77
226.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$71.8₩97.5K
$21.58MX$366
232.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.07₩4,172
$2.04MX$34.65
50.49%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56₩764
$0.58MX$9.82
-3.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.94₩10.8K
$5.97MX$101
33.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30₩1,772
$1.62MX$27.44
-19.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1K₩38.2M
$22.8KMX$387.4K
23.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.6K₩55.3M
$26.7KMX$452.8K
52.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$264₩359.2K
$65.2MX$1,108
305.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$48.58₩66.0K
$29.87MX$507
62.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.90₩54.2K
$36.55MX$621
9.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.43₩67.2K
$61.0MX$1,036
-18.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.86₩16.1K
$26.70MX$453
-55.58%
Cinema Ticket
$10.99₩14.9K
$6.85MX$116
60.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$510₩692.7K
$453MX$7,700
12.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$27.6K₩37.5M
$13.4KMX$227.1K
106.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.9₩73.3K
$75.0MX$1,273
-28.08%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2₩68.2K
$55.3MX$939
-9.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.9₩127.7K
$114MX$1,929
-17.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161₩219.3K
$123MX$2,083
31.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$402₩546.7K
$1,134MX$19.3K
-64.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$267₩362.6K
$712MX$12.1K
-62.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,012₩1.4M
$2,571MX$43.7K
-60.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$600₩815.9K
$1,311MX$22.3K
-54.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,006₩9.5M
$3,993MX$67.8K
75.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,543₩7.5M
$2,095MX$35.6K
164.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Daegu
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,423₩3.3M
$1,047MX$17.8K
131.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.07
11.3
-55.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Daegu: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Daegu versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 131% higher in Daegu, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $403 in Daegu vs $345 in Mexico City – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Daegu vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Daegu and in Mexico City compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,541 in Daegu, $1,646 in Mexico City – roughly 7% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Daegu compared to Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,311 per month in Daegu and $2,469 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Daegu and Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Daegu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Daegu and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Daegu or Mexico City?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,541 in Daegu and $1,646 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Daegu, where all-in costs run around $1,541, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Daegu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Daegu and Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,541 in Daegu to $1,646 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Daegu or Mexico City safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Daegu and Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Daegu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.