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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,677 per month in Mexico City vs $1,197 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,608 per month in Mexico City vs $1,944 in Gyeongju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Mexico City vs $2,690 in Gyeongju, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 40% more than Gyeongju, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 22% above the global median, while Gyeongju is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.14 MX$206

$7.61 ₩10.2K

59.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 MX$914

$47.49 ₩63.7K

13.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.09 MX$188

$6.71 ₩8,996

65.28%

Cappuccino

$4.10 MX$69.5

$2.98 ₩4,002

37.58%

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

$1.68 MX$28.53

$1.08 ₩1,454

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 MX$23.55

$0.39 ₩521

256.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 MX$56.5

$2.67 ₩3,581

24.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 MX$99.7

$4.38 ₩5,867

34.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.85 MX$31.41

$2.33 ₩3,127

-20.60%

White Bread (500g)

$3.17 MX$53.8

$2.43 ₩3,264

30.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.07 MX$35.13

$3.19 ₩4,281

-35.11%

Eggs

$2.93 MX$49.67

$2.72 ₩3,646

7.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.59 MX$214

$10.91 ₩14.6K

15.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 MX$172

$10.45 ₩14.0K

-3.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 MX$273

$18.47 ₩24.8K

-12.89%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 MX$57.5

$4.45 ₩5,964

-23.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.08 MX$35.26

$2.56 ₩3,434

-18.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 MX$35.97

$3.76 ₩5,043

-43.62%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.41 MX$40.95

$3.69 ₩4,950

-34.69%

Potato (1kg)

$2.13 MX$36.11

$2.64 ₩3,546

-19.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.02

$2.24 ₩3,005

-10.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 MX$26.21

$2.20 ₩2,952

-29.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 MX$23.15

$1.27 ₩1,698

7.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.77 MX$97.8

$3.30 ₩4,426

74.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.74 MX$301

$15.04 ₩20.2K

17.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 MX$35.11

$1.12 ₩1,506

84.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.61 MX$78.3

$2.29 ₩3,071

101.31%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.37 MX$6.21

$1.01 ₩1,361

-63.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.18 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.05 MX$34.84

$3.02 ₩4,047

-32.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 MX$9.79

$0.72 ₩962

-19.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.07 MX$103

$16.94 ₩22.7K

-64.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.55 MX$26.34

$1.06 ₩1,420

46.23%

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

$22.9K MX$388.1K

$29.7K ₩39.8M

-22.88%

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

$27.2K MX$462.0K

$33.0K ₩44.3M

-17.57%

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

$67.4 MX$1,144

$78.7 ₩105.6K

-14.39%

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

$30.62 MX$520

$35.54 ₩47.7K

-13.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.24 MX$632

$26.57 ₩35.6K

40.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.5 MX$1,043

$57.1 ₩76.6K

7.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.12 MX$460

$10.64 ₩14.3K

154.89%

Cinema Ticket

$7.11 MX$121

$11.18 ₩15.0K

-36.40%

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

$456 MX$7,739

$630 ₩845.3K

-27.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.7K MX$232.3K

$22.0K ₩29.5M

-37.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$74.2 MX$1,259

$45.35 ₩60.8K

63.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 MX$967

$22.40 ₩30.0K

154.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 MX$1,958

$91.2 ₩122.4K

26.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$122 MX$2,061

$128 ₩172.3K

-5.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 MX$19.5K

$452 ₩606.0K

153.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 MX$12.0K

$352 ₩471.9K

101.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,577 MX$43.7K

$1,154 ₩1.5M

123.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 MX$22.0K

$815 ₩1.1M

58.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,005 MX$67.9K

$8,164 ₩10.9M

-50.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,130 MX$36.1K

$6,253 ₩8.4M

-65.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,082 MX$18.4K

$1,830 ₩2.5M

-40.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

4.22

167.77%

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026

Last update for Gyeongju: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,148 in Mexico City versus $452 in Gyeongju. 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 69% higher in Gyeongju, 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 $47.00 in Gyeongju. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $359 in Gyeongju – 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 Gyeongju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,515 per month in Mexico City and $1,796 in Gyeongju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Gyeongju, 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 $1,677 in Mexico City and $1,197 in Gyeongju. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $456 per month in Mexico City and $630 in Gyeongju. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Gyeongju, where all-in costs run around $1,197, than in Mexico City at $1,677. In Gyeongju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Gyeongju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Gyeongju. 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.