😐A single person spends $1,456 per month in Mexico City vs $1,362 in Daegu, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,361 per month in Mexico City vs $2,159 in Daegu, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,266 per month in Mexico City vs $2,955 in Daegu, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 7% more than Daegu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and Daegu sit above the global median – Mexico City by 9%, Daegu by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$7.91₩11.7K
65.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$35.84₩52.9K
49.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$6.00₩8,849
61.33%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$3.45₩5,086
8.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.50₩2,217
8.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.81₩1,191
43.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.57₩5,261
-9.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$5.13₩7,575
-7.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$2.17₩3,206
-23.96%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$3.47₩5,120
-20.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$2.67₩3,946
-29.96%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.71₩3,996
-7.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$11.54₩17.0K
-11.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$6.94₩10.2K
18.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$23.61₩34.8K
-49.94%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$8.04₩11.9K
-62.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$3.58₩5,289
-49.44%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$5.51₩8,131
-63.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$6.47₩9,545
-69.09%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$2.38₩3,513
-12.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$2.92₩4,313
-22.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$2.50₩3,685
-41.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$1.26₩1,865
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.37₩4,969
29.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$13.16₩19.4K
29.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$2.33₩3,441
-25.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.90₩4,284
23.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.07₩1,578
-63.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$73.3₩108.1K
-74.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$3.20₩4,719
-58.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$0.42₩618
-33.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$8.63₩12.7K
-39.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.20₩1,768
11.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$27.8K₩41.0M
-30.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$25.5K₩37.7M
-6.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$165₩242.8K
-75.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$34.55₩51.0K
-22.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$22.26₩32.8K
37.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$50.9₩75.0K
3.75%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$11.53₩17.0K
131.14%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$10.48₩15.5K
-37.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$422₩622.0K
1.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$23.3K₩34.4M
-54.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$54.6₩80.5K
4.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$48.08₩70.9K
-5.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$80.1₩118.2K
29.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$117₩172.4K
-7.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$393₩579.7K
155.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$255₩375.9K
144.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$1,211₩1.8M
74.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$596₩879.3K
104.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$7,015₩10.3M
-44.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$5,324₩7.9M
-61.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$2,173₩3.2M
-52.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.14
173.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Daegu: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Mexico City versus $393 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 109% 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $36.00 in Daegu. Groceries tell a different story – $292 in Mexico City vs $416 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: $1,456 in Mexico City, $1,362 in Daegu – roughly 7% 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 $2,185 per month in Mexico City and $2,043 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 $54.0 in Mexico City and $36.00 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 $1,456 in Mexico City and $1,362 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 $1,362, than in Mexico City at $1,456. 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 $1,362 in Daegu to $1,456 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