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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,660 per month in Mexico City vs $1,089 in Jeju, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,565 per month in Mexico City vs $1,883 in Jeju, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,470 per month in Mexico City vs $2,677 in Jeju, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 52% more than Jeju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Mexico City sits 21% above the global median, while Jeju is 20% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.92 MX$206

$7.39 ₩10.2K

61.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.6 MX$890

$51.7 ₩71.3K

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$11.41 MX$197

$5.46 ₩7,521

108.97%

Cappuccino

$3.99 MX$68.9

$5.72 ₩7,888

-30.24%

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

$1.66 MX$28.61

$2.18 ₩3,007

-23.85%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 MX$22.87

$1.91 ₩2,635

-30.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.47 MX$59.9

$3.39 ₩4,665

2.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.90 MX$102

$3.05 ₩4,199

93.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 MX$32.36

$2.25 ₩3,095

-16.44%

White Bread (500g)

$3.25 MX$56.1

$2.25 ₩3,107

44.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.26

$2.19 ₩3,021

-1.37%

Eggs

$2.90 MX$49.94

$2.66 ₩3,663

9.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.86 MX$222

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.05 MX$173

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.86 MX$273

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 MX$56.8

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 MX$34.60

$2.12 ₩2,916

-5.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 MX$37.93

Tomato (1kg)

$2.36 MX$40.63

Potato (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.43

$2.99 ₩4,119

-31.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.79

$1.90 ₩2,614

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$2.19 ₩3,016

-26.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 MX$24.09

$0.43 ₩592

225.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.46 MX$94.2

Wine (Bottle)

$17.65 MX$304

$10.95 ₩15.1K

61.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.06 MX$35.44

$1.91 ₩2,632

7.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.68 MX$80.8

$1.69 ₩2,327

176.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.34 MX$5.84

$0.95 ₩1,308

-64.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$20.81 MX$359

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.10 MX$36.15

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.56 MX$9.64

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 MX$100

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.61 MX$27.68

$1.27 ₩1,754

26.77%

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

$22.8K MX$393.8K

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

$26.8K MX$461.2K

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

$65.2 MX$1,124

$208 ₩286.5K

-68.65%

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

$30.09 MX$519

$54.4 ₩74.9K

-44.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.18 MX$641

$19.80 ₩27.3K

87.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$59.8 MX$1,030

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.55 MX$458

Cinema Ticket

$7.04 MX$121

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

$465 MX$8,012

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MX$228.9K

$24.6K ₩33.9M

-45.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$75.9 MX$1,308

$52.1 ₩71.8K

45.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.0 MX$965

$29.94 ₩41.3K

86.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 MX$1,929

$65.0 ₩89.6K

72.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 MX$2,078

$90.8 ₩125.1K

32.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MX$19.0K

$466 ₩642.7K

136.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MX$12.4K

$375 ₩516.8K

92.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,530 MX$43.6K

$1,331 ₩1.8M

90.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,293 MX$22.3K

$1,172 ₩1.6M

10.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,991 MX$68.8K

$10.3K ₩14.1M

-61.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,090 MX$36.0K

$6,750 ₩9.3M

-69.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,037 MX$17.9K

$1,854 ₩2.6M

-44.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.3

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

Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jeju: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,103 in Mexico City versus $466 in Jeju. 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 79% higher in Jeju, 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 $52.0 in Mexico City versus $52.0 in Jeju. Groceries tell a different story – $345 in Mexico City vs $139 in Jeju – so Jeju 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 Jeju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 52%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,489 per month in Mexico City and $1,633 in Jeju. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeju, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 149% more in Mexico City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $52.0 in Jeju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jeju, where all-in costs run around $1,089, than in Mexico City at $1,660. In Jeju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jeju – 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 Jeju. 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.