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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $1,529 in Daegu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $2,380 in Daegu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $3,231 in Daegu, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 9% more than Daegu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Daegu sit above the global median – Mexico City by 21%, Daegu by 12%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$205
$9.10 ₩12.6K
30.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$886
$37.40 ₩51.6K
37.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$196
$5.58 ₩7,702
104.48%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.6
$3.94 ₩5,443
1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.48
$1.54 ₩2,131
7.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.77
$0.89 ₩1,226
49.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.6
$3.63 ₩5,015
-4.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$101
$5.39 ₩7,442
9.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.21
$2.38 ₩3,287
-21.01%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$55.9
$4.27 ₩5,893
-23.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.10
$2.76 ₩3,804
-21.74%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.72
$2.71 ₩3,742
7.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$221
$10.13 ₩14.0K
26.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$7.10 ₩9,796
41.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$272
$20.59 ₩28.4K
-22.97%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.6
$6.76 ₩9,324
-51.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.44
$2.71 ₩3,738
-25.83%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.76
$5.60 ₩7,731
-60.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.44
$5.86 ₩8,081
-59.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.27
$2.71 ₩3,738
-24.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.64
$2.06 ₩2,846
-7.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.55
$4.41 ₩6,090
-63.49%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$23.98
$1.32 ₩1,821
6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$93.8
$3.01 ₩4,151
81.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$303
$15.00 ₩20.7K
17.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.28
$2.11 ₩2,914
-2.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.4
$2.42 ₩3,346
93.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.81
$1.10 ₩1,514
-69.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$357
$73.1 ₩100.9K
-71.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$35.99
$3.18 ₩4,387
-33.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.60
$0.61 ₩838
-8.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$99.8
$8.24 ₩11.4K
-29.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.56
$1.34 ₩1,848
20.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$392.1K
$27.6K ₩38.0M
-17.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$459.2K
$41.3K ₩57.0M
-35.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,119
$269 ₩370.8K
-75.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$517
$49.74 ₩68.7K
-39.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$638
$46.36 ₩64.0K
-19.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,026
$50.8 ₩70.0K
17.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$456
$12.05 ₩16.6K
120.33%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$11.18 ₩15.4K
-37.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$7,976
$512 ₩707.1K
-9.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$227.8K
$28.1K ₩38.8M
-52.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,303
$54.3 ₩75.0K
39.69%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$960
$50.9 ₩70.2K
10.01%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,920
$94.3 ₩130.2K
18.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,068
$168 ₩232.0K
-28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$18.9K
$413 ₩570.0K
166.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$266 ₩366.8K
171.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.4K
$1,041 ₩1.4M
143.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.2K
$609 ₩840.8K
112.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.5K
$6,956 ₩9.6M
-42.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$35.9K
$5,427 ₩7.5M
-61.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.8K
$2,448 ₩3.4M
-57.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
5.07
122.88%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Daegu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $413 in Daegu. 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 136% 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $37.00 in Daegu. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $409 in Daegu – 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
Mexico City vs Daegu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Daegu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City, $1,529 in Daegu – roughly 9% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Daegu?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $2,294 in Daegu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Daegu?
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 $52.0 in Mexico City and $37.00 in Daegu. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Daegu?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,660 in Mexico City and $1,529 in Daegu. 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 $1,529, than in Mexico City at $1,660. 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 Mexico City and Daegu?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,529 in Daegu to $1,660 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Daegu 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 Mexico City and Daegu?
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.

Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities