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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,472 per month in Mexico City vs $1,487 in Gongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Mexico City vs $2,321 in Gongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,245 per month in Mexico City vs $3,155 in Gongju, rent included.

Mexico City is about 1% cheaper than Gongju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Mexico City and Gongju sit above the global median – Mexico City by 11%, Gongju by 12%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$227

$7.20 ₩10.4K

82.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$926

$36.75 ₩52.9K

45.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$161

$6.10 ₩8,772

52.95%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.0

$4.09 ₩5,887

-9.54%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.60 MX$27.76

$1.89 ₩2,719

-15.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.34

$1.38 ₩1,991

-18.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.3

$3.73 ₩5,370

-15.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$83.9

$5.84 ₩8,404

-16.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.61

$2.31 ₩3,324

-28.57%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$46.96

$3.50 ₩5,028

-22.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.03

$3.07 ₩4,416

-37.79%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$44.81

$2.98 ₩4,279

-13.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$170

$10.54 ₩15.2K

-6.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$146

$8.28 ₩11.9K

1.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$206

$27.72 ₩39.9K

-56.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.1

$8.44 ₩12.1K

-65.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.10

$3.25 ₩4,673

-46.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.38

$7.32 ₩10.5K

-72.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.64

$5.16 ₩7,421

-60.08%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.20

$5.21 ₩7,495

-58.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.02

$3.05 ₩4,391

-25.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$23.97

$2.01 ₩2,895

-30.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.31

$1.16 ₩1,663

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.0

$3.38 ₩4,866

24.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$303

$17.22 ₩24.8K

1.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.58

$1.71 ₩2,458

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$62.8

$3.49 ₩5,022

4.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.10

$1.06 ₩1,523

-66.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$334

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.80

$3.50 ₩5,028

-60.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.77

$0.86 ₩1,231

-67.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$91.3

$16.27 ₩23.4K

-67.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.50

$1.20 ₩1,732

13.33%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.1K MX$330.5K

$27.5K ₩39.6M

-30.62%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.6K MX$408.4K

$25.4K ₩36.5M

-6.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.53 MX$701

$193 ₩277.6K

-79.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.38 MX$474

$50.5 ₩72.6K

-45.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$526

$28.04 ₩40.3K

8.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$903

$48.28 ₩69.4K

8.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$107

$11.44 ₩16.5K

-45.89%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 MX$7,355

$489 ₩703.0K

-13.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$185.7K

$14.4K ₩20.7M

-25.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,009

$101 ₩145.9K

-42.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$771

$47.42 ₩68.2K

-6.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,791

$87.6 ₩125.9K

18.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,881

$120 ₩172.4K

-9.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.5K

$458 ₩658.8K

121.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.8K

$371 ₩533.0K

68.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$36.7K

$1,062 ₩1.5M

99.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.2K

$757 ₩1.1M

61.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$65.6K

$7,330 ₩10.5M

-48.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.5K

$5,084 ₩7.3M

-58.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.2K

$1,175 ₩1.7M

-10.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

4.22

168.72%

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

Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026

Last update for Gongju: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,014 in Mexico City versus $458 in Gongju. 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 12% higher in Gongju, 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 $54.0 in Mexico City versus $37.00 in Gongju. Groceries tell a different story – $293 in Mexico City vs $449 in Gongju – 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 Gongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,472 in Mexico City, $1,487 in Gongju – roughly 1% apart. Gongju costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,208 per month in Mexico City and $2,231 in Gongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,472 in Mexico City and $1,487 in Gongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Mexico City and $489 in Gongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,472, than in Gongju at $1,487. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Gongju it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,472 in Mexico City to $1,487 in Gongju. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Gongju makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.