😐A single person spends $1,468 per month in Icheon vs $1,448 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,256 per month in Icheon vs $2,354 in Mexico City, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,043 per month in Icheon vs $3,260 in Mexico City, rent included.
😐Icheon costs about 1% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Icheon and Mexico City sit above the global median – Icheon by 10%, Mexico City by 9%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.22₩9,400
$12.96MX$223
-52.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.85₩55.7K
$52.3MX$900
-29.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.09₩9,208
$9.69MX$167
-37.15%
Cappuccino
$4.17₩6,303
$3.75MX$64.6
11.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27₩1,925
$1.56MX$26.91
-18.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15₩1,736
$1.16MX$19.93
-0.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.71₩5,611
$3.24MX$55.8
14.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.92₩8,945
$4.90MX$84.3
20.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.28₩3,451
$1.70MX$29.29
34.12%
White Bread(500g)
$3.63₩5,488
$2.67MX$45.90
35.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.06₩4,630
$1.89MX$32.49
61.90%
Eggs
$2.88₩4,351
$2.52MX$43.37
14.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.59₩16.0K
$10.02MX$172
5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.14₩12.3K
$8.53MX$147
-4.57%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$27.95₩42.2K
$11.94MX$205
134.09%
Apples(1kg)
$8.39₩12.7K
$2.97MX$51.1
182.49%
Banana(1kg)
$3.17₩4,788
$1.79MX$30.88
77.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$7.22₩10.9K
$2.00MX$34.40
261.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.39₩8,139
$1.96MX$33.74
175.00%
Potato(1kg)
$5.12₩7,733
$2.16MX$37.21
137.04%
Onion(1kg)
$2.91₩4,390
$2.27MX$39.04
28.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.11₩3,194
$1.40MX$24.14
50.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.21₩1,835
$1.11MX$19.18
9.01%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34₩5,052
$4.20MX$72.2
-20.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54₩25.0K
$16.54MX$285
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77₩2,668
$1.68MX$28.94
5.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.47₩5,249
$3.59MX$61.8
-3.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.13₩1,704
$0.39MX$6.65
189.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$19.19MX$330
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.60₩5,436
$1.38MX$23.77
160.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85₩1,290
$0.30MX$5.19
183.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.68₩25.2K
$5.39MX$92.7
209.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22₩1,849
$1.29MX$22.13
-5.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.3K₩41.3M
$18.9KMX$325.1K
44.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.1K₩37.9M
$23.8KMX$409.5K
5.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$187₩282.7K
$39.86MX$686
369.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$51.4₩77.6K
$27.83MX$479
84.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.96₩42.2K
$29.77MX$512
-6.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.84₩33.0K
$52.0MX$894
-57.97%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.22MX$451
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.11₩16.8K
$6.27MX$108
77.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$498₩751.9K
$433MX$7,443
15.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.9K₩21.0M
$10.5KMX$181.3K
31.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101₩152.6K
$57.0MX$981
77.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.73₩72.1K
$45.33MX$780
5.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$87.9₩132.8K
$102MX$1,753
-13.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118₩178.8K
$109MX$1,867
9.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$745₩1.1M
$994MX$17.1K
-25.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379₩573.0K
$617MX$10.6K
-38.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,081₩1.6M
$2,086MX$35.9K
-48.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$762₩1.2M
$1,256MX$21.6K
-39.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$8,823₩13.3M
$3,936MX$67.7K
124.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,734₩7.2M
$2,089MX$35.9K
126.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Icheon
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,072₩3.1M
$1,131MX$19.5K
83.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.9
11.34
-65.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Icheon: June 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $745 in Icheon versus $994 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 83% higher in Icheon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Icheon versus $52.0 in Mexico City. Groceries tell a different story – $449 in Icheon vs $292 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
Icheon vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Icheon?
Yes – Icheon is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,202 per month in Icheon and $2,173 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Icheon or Mexico City?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Icheon and $52.0 in Mexico City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Icheon and Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 54% more in Icheon, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Icheon or Mexico City?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,448, than in Icheon at $1,468. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Icheon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Icheon or Mexico City more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mexico City – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Icheon or Mexico City?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Icheon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.