Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Gyeongju and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,197 per month in Gyeongju vs $1,677 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,944 per month in Gyeongju vs $2,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,690 per month in Gyeongju vs $3,540 in Mexico City, rent included.

Gyeongju is about 29% cheaper than Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Gyeongju sits 13% below the global median, while Mexico City is 22% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.61 ₩10.2K

$12.14 MX$206

-37.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.49 ₩63.7K

$53.9 MX$914

-11.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.71 ₩8,996

$11.09 MX$188

-39.50%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ₩4,002

$4.10 MX$69.5

-27.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₩1,454

$1.68 MX$28.53

-35.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 ₩521

$1.39 MX$23.55

-71.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.67 ₩3,581

$3.33 MX$56.5

-19.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 ₩5,867

$5.88 MX$99.7

-25.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.33 ₩3,127

$1.85 MX$31.41

25.95%

White Bread (500g)

$2.43 ₩3,264

$3.17 MX$53.8

-23.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.19 ₩4,281

$2.07 MX$35.13

54.11%

Eggs

$2.72 ₩3,646

$2.93 MX$49.67

-7.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.91 ₩14.6K

$12.59 MX$214

-13.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.45 ₩14.0K

$10.11 MX$172

3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.47 ₩24.8K

$16.09 MX$273

14.79%

Apples (1kg)

$4.45 ₩5,964

$3.39 MX$57.5

31.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.56 ₩3,434

$2.08 MX$35.26

23.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 ₩5,043

$2.12 MX$35.97

77.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.69 ₩4,950

$2.41 MX$40.95

53.11%

Potato (1kg)

$2.64 ₩3,546

$2.13 MX$36.11

23.94%

Onion (1kg)

$2.24 ₩3,005

$2.01 MX$34.02

11.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.20 ₩2,952

$1.55 MX$26.21

41.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 ₩1,698

$1.36 MX$23.15

-6.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.30 ₩4,426

$5.77 MX$97.8

-42.81%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.04 ₩20.2K

$17.74 MX$301

-15.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 ₩1,506

$2.07 MX$35.11

-45.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 ₩3,071

$4.61 MX$78.3

-50.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 ₩1,361

$0.37 MX$6.21

172.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.02 ₩4,047

$2.05 MX$34.84

47.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.72 ₩962

$0.58 MX$9.79

24.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.94 ₩22.7K

$6.07 MX$103

179.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 ₩1,420

$1.55 MX$26.34

-31.61%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K ₩39.8M

$22.9K MX$388.1K

29.67%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.0K ₩44.3M

$27.2K MX$462.0K

21.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$78.7 ₩105.6K

$67.4 MX$1,144

16.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$35.54 ₩47.7K

$30.62 MX$520

16.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.57 ₩35.6K

$37.24 MX$632

-28.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.1 ₩76.6K

$61.5 MX$1,043

-7.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.64 ₩14.3K

$27.12 MX$460

-60.77%

Cinema Ticket

$11.18 ₩15.0K

$7.11 MX$121

57.24%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$630 ₩845.3K

$456 MX$7,739

38.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$22.0K ₩29.5M

$13.7K MX$232.3K

60.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.35 ₩60.8K

$74.2 MX$1,259

-38.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$22.40 ₩30.0K

$57.0 MX$967

-60.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$91.2 ₩122.4K

$115 MX$1,958

-20.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$128 ₩172.3K

$122 MX$2,061

5.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 ₩606.0K

$1,148 MX$19.5K

-60.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$352 ₩471.9K

$709 MX$12.0K

-50.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,154 ₩1.5M

$2,577 MX$43.7K

-55.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$815 ₩1.1M

$1,295 MX$22.0K

-37.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$8,164 ₩10.9M

$4,005 MX$67.9K

103.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,253 ₩8.4M

$2,130 MX$36.1K

193.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,830 ₩2.5M

$1,082 MX$18.4K

69.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.22

11.3

-62.65%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Gyeongju: September 5, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Gyeongju versus $1,148 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 69% higher in Gyeongju, 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 $47.00 in Gyeongju versus $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $359 in Gyeongju 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

Gyeongju vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Gyeongju and $2,515 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,197 in Gyeongju and $1,677 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $630 per month in Gyeongju and $456 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Gyeongju. 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.