🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $129 in Gulu versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $192 in Gulu versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $254 in Gulu versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Gulu costs roughly 91% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Gulu is 90% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.36UGX 5,041
$12.98MX$227
-89.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
-
$53.1MX$929
-
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$12.60UGX 46.7K
$9.72MX$170
29.63%
Cappuccino
$2.85UGX 10.6K
$3.75MX$65.6
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29UGX 1,076
$1.57MX$27.46
-81.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14UGX 523
$1.13MX$19.76
-87.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.80UGX 2,962
$3.18MX$55.7
-74.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71UGX 10.1K
$4.66MX$81.6
-41.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
-
$1.62MX$28.37
-
White Bread(500g)
-
$2.71MX$47.36
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
-
$1.88MX$32.89
-
Eggs
-
$2.51MX$43.90
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$10.08MX$176
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
-
$8.29MX$145
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$11.94MX$209
-
Apples(1kg)
-
$2.86MX$50.1
-
Banana(1kg)
-
$1.75MX$30.62
-
Oranges(1kg)
-
$2.08MX$36.48
-
Tomato(1kg)
-
$1.97MX$34.46
-
Potato(1kg)
-
$2.16MX$37.79
-
Onion(1kg)
-
$2.18MX$38.16
-
Lettuce(1 head)
-
$1.39MX$24.34
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.12MX$19.69
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$4.20MX$73.5
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$14.25MX$249
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.76MX$30.85
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.68MX$64.5
-
🚌 Getting Around
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13UGX 4,180
$0.39MX$6.74
189.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.93UGX 122.1K
$18.66MX$327
76.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$1.39MX$24.26
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$0.30MX$5.32
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.42MX$94.9
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36UGX 5,056
$1.35MX$23.63
0.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$18.9KMX$330.5K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
-
$23.2KMX$405.2K
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
-
$40.82MX$714
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$27.50MX$481
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
-
$30.38MX$532
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$53.4MX$935
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.30MX$460
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$6.27MX$110
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$436MX$7,632
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$10.5KMX$183.2K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
-
$56.8MX$993
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
-
$44.79MX$784
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$103MX$1,799
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
-
$108MX$1,888
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,000MX$17.5K
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$620MX$10.9K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,137MX$37.4K
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,235MX$21.6K
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,865MX$67.6K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,332MX$40.8K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Gulu
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,067MX$18.7K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
11.34
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Gulu: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
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
Gulu vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Gulu?
Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 1049% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $194 in Gulu and $2,225 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.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 76% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What are total monthly expenses in Gulu vs Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $129 per month in Gulu versus $1,484 in Mexico City – a 1049% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Gulu or Mexico City?
At $129 in Gulu versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Gulu or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Gulu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1049% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.