Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jilin and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Jilin: $722 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $10,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Jilin, China
Mexico City, Mexico
Jilin
🇨🇳 China
$722
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jilin and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jilin and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $722 per month in Jilin vs $1,608 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Jilin $722
  • Mexico City $1,608

A couple spends around $1,195 per month in Jilin vs $2,549 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Jilin $1,195
  • Mexico City $2,549

A family of three spends $1,669 per month in Jilin vs $3,490 in Mexico City, rent included.

  • Jilin $1,669
  • Mexico City $3,490

Jilin is about 55% cheaper than Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Jilin sits 47% below the global median, while Mexico City is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.05 ¥20.28
$10.62 MX$200
-71.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.62 ¥150
$48.35 MX$909
-53.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.17 ¥34.32
$10.35 MX$194
-50.05%
Cappuccino
$3.43 ¥22.80
$3.69 MX$69.4
-7.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 ¥2.95
$1.67 MX$31.32
-73.65%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 ¥1.80
$1.27 MX$23.78
-78.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.09 ¥7.23
$3.19 MX$60.0
-65.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 ¥15.37
$5.31 MX$99.7
-56.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.75 ¥11.62
$1.72 MX$32.41
1.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 ¥10.69
$3.04 MX$57.1
-47.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 ¥6.58
$1.94 MX$36.48
-48.97%
Eggs
$1.57 ¥10.45
$2.89 MX$54.3
-45.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.29 ¥102
$10.97 MX$206
39.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 ¥20.70
$9.25 MX$174
-66.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.08 ¥73.6
$15.13 MX$284
-26.77%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 ¥12.49
$3.05 MX$57.3
-38.36%
Banana (1kg)
$1.27 ¥8.43
$1.94 MX$36.48
-34.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 ¥9.77
$2.03 MX$38.06
-27.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 ¥8.60
$2.31 MX$43.50
-44.16%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 ¥4.37
$2.04 MX$38.25
-67.65%
Onion (1kg)
$1.02 ¥6.78
$1.80 MX$33.83
-43.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 ¥3.95
$1.48 MX$27.80
-60.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 ¥3.90
$1.27 MX$23.82
-53.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.77 ¥25.08
$5.30 MX$99.7
-28.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.21 ¥67.9
$16.10 MX$303
-36.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 ¥5.06
$1.98 MX$37.27
-61.62%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 ¥10.63
$4.25 MX$79.9
-62.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 ¥2.28
$0.31 MX$5.73
9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$17.48 ¥116
$19.73 MX$371
-11.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.08 ¥7.15
$1.84 MX$34.53
-41.30%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.26 ¥1.73
$0.53 MX$10.03
-50.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.13 ¥47.37
$5.30 MX$99.5
34.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.27 ¥8.42
$1.51 MX$28.39
-15.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.8K ¥131.9K
$21.8K MX$408.8K
-8.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.6K ¥116.7K
$24.0K MX$450.8K
-26.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.3 ¥407
$63.0 MX$1,184
-2.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.26 ¥54.9
$27.39 MX$515
-69.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.67 ¥70.9
$35.67 MX$670
-70.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.37 ¥262
$58.9 MX$1,108
-33.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.99 ¥113
$23.64 MX$444
-28.13%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41 ¥42.61
$6.40 MX$120
0.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$440 ¥2,926
$432 MX$8,111
2.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$17.7K ¥117.3K
$11.4K MX$214.7K
54.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.55 ¥283
$68.2 MX$1,282
-37.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.53 ¥216
$53.1 MX$999
-38.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.4 ¥508
$108 MX$2,026
-29.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.0 ¥505
$117 MX$2,204
-35.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 ¥1,621
$1,113 MX$20.9K
-78.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$163 ¥1,083
$710 MX$13.4K
-77.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 ¥3,878
$2,588 MX$48.6K
-77.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$406 ¥2,700
$1,406 MX$26.4K
-71.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,551 ¥23.6K
$3,631 MX$68.2K
-2.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,139 ¥14.2K
$2,135 MX$40.1K
0.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jilin
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$441 ¥2,931
$946 MX$17.8K
-53.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.36
11.35
-70.40%

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

Last update for Jilin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Jilin
$209
Mexico City
$320 53.1% $111
Accommodation & Living
Jilin
$163
Mexico City
$710 336% $547
Clothing & Footwear
Jilin
$102
Mexico City
$156 52.3% $54
Eating Out
Jilin
$94
Mexico City
$199 111% $105
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jilin
$80
Mexico City
$126 57.2% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Jilin
$52
Mexico City
$72 37.4% $20
Getting Around
Jilin
$21
Mexico City
$25 19.9% $4.2

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Jilin versus $1,113 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 in Mexico City are about 2.1 times higher, 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 $23 in Jilin versus $48 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $320 – making Jilin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇳 Jilin
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
15:29 3:29 PM
01:29 1:29 AM
14 h behind Jilin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,623,713
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to CNY – Chinese Yuan Converter

Chinese Yuan exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 6.64 CNY (1 CNY = 0.15 USD). 1 EUR = 7.42 CNY (1 CNY = 0.135 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jilin Mexico City 11,580 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Jilin
  • Mexico City

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Jilin vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jilin or Mexico City?
Mexico City costs about 123% more than Jilin, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jilin and in Mexico City?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,083 per month in Jilin and $2,412 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jilin or Mexico City?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Jilin, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $244 there versus $1,113 in Mexico City.
How do childcare costs compare in Jilin and in Mexico City?
Kindergarten costs $440 per month in Jilin and $432 in Mexico City. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jilin or in Mexico City?
Groceries cost about 53% more in Mexico City, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $800/month in Jilin or in Mexico City?
A $800 monthly budget goes further in Jilin, where all-in costs run around $722, than in Mexico City at $1,608. In Jilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jilin or Mexico City?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $722 in Jilin to $1,608 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Jilin or to Mexico City?
If budget matters most, go with Jilin. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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