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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $129 in Gulu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $190 in Gulu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $250 in Gulu.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 1024% more expensive than Gulu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Gulu is 90% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96 MX$223
$1.43 UGX 5,280
806.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3 MX$900
-
-
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.69 MX$167
$12.69 UGX 47.0K
-23.64%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$64.6
$2.71 UGX 10.0K
38.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 MX$26.91
$0.29 UGX 1,074
437.93%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$19.93
$0.13 UGX 497
792.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.24 MX$55.8
$0.85 UGX 3,154
281.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90 MX$84.3
$2.84 UGX 10.5K
72.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.29
-
-
White Bread (500g)
$2.67 MX$45.90
-
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MX$32.49
-
-
Eggs
$2.52 MX$43.37
-
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.02 MX$172
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.53 MX$147
-
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$205
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.1
-
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.79 MX$30.88
-
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.40
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.96 MX$33.74
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.21
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.04
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.14
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.18
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$72.2
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$16.54 MX$285
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 MX$28.94
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59 MX$61.8
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.65
$1.13 UGX 4,192
-65.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.19 MX$330
$33.61 UGX 124.4K
-42.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.77
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.19
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.39 MX$92.7
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 MX$22.13
$1.44 UGX 5,324
-10.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$325.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$409.5K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$39.86 MX$686
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83 MX$479
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77 MX$512
-
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$894
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22 MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$108
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$433 MX$7,443
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$181.3K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0 MX$981
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33 MX$780
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 MX$1,753
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 MX$1,867
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$994 MX$17.1K
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$617 MX$10.6K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,086 MX$35.9K
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 MX$21.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,936 MX$67.7K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,089 MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Gulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,131 MX$19.5K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
0
-

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 14, 2026

Last update for Gulu: June 15, 2026

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 Gulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gulu cheaper than Mexico City?
Gulu is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 1024% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,173 in Mexico City and $193 in Gulu to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Gulu runs roughly 75% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Gulu?
All in, you'll spend $1,448 per month in Mexico City versus $129 in Gulu – a 1024% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Gulu?
At $129 in Gulu versus $1,448 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Gulu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Gulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Gulu more family-friendly?
For families, Gulu is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1024% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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