😐A single person spends $1,646 per month in Mexico City vs $663 in Guilin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,613 per month in Mexico City vs $1,056 in Guilin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,580 per month in Mexico City vs $1,450 in Guilin, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 148% more than Guilin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 20% above the global median, while Guilin is 52% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$204
$2.17¥14.52
458.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$881
$15.09¥101
246.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$184
$2.91¥19.51
274.57%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.4
$2.07¥13.85
95.65%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$28.95
$0.42¥2.82
309.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.25
$0.31¥2.09
345.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.5
$0.83¥5.57
318.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.1
$2.03¥13.61
186.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.28
$1.51¥10.11
22.52%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.4
$1.22¥8.19
163.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.20
$0.65¥4.37
221.54%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.10
$1.74¥11.63
67.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$211
$12.94¥86.7
-3.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$171
$3.33¥22.34
203.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$268
$11.00¥73.8
44.45%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.0
$1.53¥10.24
116.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$35.90
$1.22¥8.19
74.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$36.97
$1.02¥6.83
114.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.31
$0.85¥5.67
188.24%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$36.95
$0.71¥4.78
208.45%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.15
$0.88¥5.90
115.91%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.26
$0.53¥3.53
205.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.78
$0.43¥2.87
213.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$91.6
$3.80¥25.46
42.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$297
$11.51¥77.1
52.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$34.90
$0.78¥5.25
165.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.1
$1.49¥9.96
218.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.74
$0.31¥2.09
9.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$364
$19.08¥128
13.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.44
$1.32¥8.82
54.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.75
$0.29¥1.91
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$7.81¥52.3
-23.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.27
$1.21¥8.13
33.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$385.0K
$19.1K¥127.8K
19.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$450.0K
$17.3K¥115.9K
54.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,101
$24.53¥164
165.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$504
$4.88¥32.67
512.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$617
$11.32¥75.9
222.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,030
$41.04¥275
48.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$451
$16.16¥108
65.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$5.31¥35.60
29.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,652
$442¥2,964
2.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$225.7K
$17.7K¥118.5K
-24.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,265
$43.40¥291
72.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$933
$33.67¥226
64.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,917
$73.2¥490
55.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,070
$73.0¥489
68.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.1K
$295¥1,979
283.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.0K
$183¥1,226
289.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.4K
$597¥4,001
330.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.1K
$375¥2,511
250.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.4K
$1,348¥9,031
196.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.4K
$1,945¥13.0K
7.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Guilin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.7K
$479¥3,209
118.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.38
234.32%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Guilin: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,134 in Mexico City versus $295 in Guilin. 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 119% higher in Mexico City, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $15.00 in Guilin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $345 vs $190 – making Guilin the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Guilin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Guilin cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 148%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,469 per month in Mexico City and $995 in Guilin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Guilin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Guilin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $15.00 in Guilin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City and in Guilin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,646 in Mexico City and $663 in Guilin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Guilin?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Guilin, where all-in costs run around $663, than in Mexico City at $1,646. In Guilin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Guilin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Guilin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Guilin. 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