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 $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,336 in Daegu, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,152 in Daegu, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $2,967 in Daegu, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 10% more than Daegu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Daegu sit above the global median – Mexico City by 10%, Daegu by 0%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$8.24 ₩12.5K
59.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$932
$36.47 ₩55.3K
47.79%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$6.00 ₩9,088
57.00%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.4
$3.61 ₩5,467
-1.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$27.98
$1.54 ₩2,336
5.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.27
$0.79 ₩1,194
40.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.0
$3.70 ₩5,610
-15.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.1
$5.31 ₩8,050
-12.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.43
$2.14 ₩3,247
-20.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.02
$3.31 ₩5,012
-17.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.07
$2.63 ₩3,984
-27.38%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.86
$2.73 ₩4,133
-6.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$11.40 ₩17.3K
-12.02%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$7.26 ₩11.0K
11.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$22.89 ₩34.7K
-49.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.3
$8.04 ₩12.2K
-63.06%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.24
$3.46 ₩5,249
-47.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.82
$5.53 ₩8,386
-63.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.20
$6.61 ₩10.0K
-69.29%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.75
$2.42 ₩3,661
-12.40%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.25
$2.95 ₩4,468
-23.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.22
$2.64 ₩3,993
-46.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.55
$1.27 ₩1,920
-11.02%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$73.9
$3.33 ₩5,039
28.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$269
$13.00 ₩19.7K
19.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.39
$2.43 ₩3,681
-27.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.2
$3.02 ₩4,569
19.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.62
$1.12 ₩1,697
-66.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$74.8 ₩113.4K
-74.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.79
$3.14 ₩4,758
-56.05%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.78
$0.43 ₩646
-34.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.2
$8.89 ₩13.5K
-38.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.55
$1.15 ₩1,746
13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.2K
$27.4K ₩41.5M
-31.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.1K
$24.6K ₩37.3M
-6.08%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$707
$162 ₩245.3K
-74.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$464
$35.44 ₩53.7K
-24.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$518
$22.58 ₩34.2K
32.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$900
$50.5 ₩76.6K
2.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$464
$11.95 ₩18.1K
124.60%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$10.49 ₩15.9K
-39.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,544
$419 ₩635.5K
3.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.2K
$23.4K ₩35.5M
-55.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$980
$54.4 ₩82.4K
4.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$768
$47.29 ₩71.7K
-6.15%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,780
$78.5 ₩119.0K
31.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,825
$117 ₩176.6K
-9.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$394 ₩596.6K
159.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$253 ₩383.9K
148.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$36.9K
$1,199 ₩1.8M
78.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$596 ₩903.5K
108.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.5K
$7,150 ₩10.8M
-45.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.7K
$5,267 ₩8.0M
-60.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Daegu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$2,165 ₩3.3M
-48.49%
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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Daegu: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $394 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 94% 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 – $288 in Mexico City vs $414 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 Daegu compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City, $1,336 in Daegu – roughly 10% 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 $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $2,004 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 $1,467 in Mexico City and $1,336 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 $1,336, than in Mexico City at $1,467. 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 $1,336 in Daegu to $1,467 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.

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