😐A single person spends $1,682 per month in Mexico City vs $1,395 in Jinju, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,599 per month in Mexico City vs $2,231 in Jinju, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,516 per month in Mexico City vs $3,068 in Jinju, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 21% more than Jinju, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mexico City and Jinju sit above the global median – Mexico City by 23%, Jinju by 2%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$8.93₩12.4K
32.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$64.4₩89.5K
-19.02%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$7.14₩9,922
52.24%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$4.04₩5,611
-0.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$1.57₩2,181
8.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$0.75₩1,044
78.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$3.45₩4,800
-1.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$5.56₩7,732
3.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$1.99₩2,772
-5.03%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$2.95₩4,105
7.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$3.95₩5,487
-48.10%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$3.15₩4,384
-4.44%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$14.72₩20.5K
-14.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$9.39₩13.1K
5.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$24.12₩33.5K
-33.67%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$7.39₩10.3K
-55.62%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$3.40₩4,720
-39.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$5.42₩7,528
-61.44%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$6.20₩8,618
-59.68%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$3.59₩4,992
-42.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$2.42₩3,361
-22.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$2.54₩3,524
-38.19%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$1.05₩1,456
32.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$3.23₩4,485
66.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$17.89₩24.9K
0.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$2.27₩3,157
-11.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$2.82₩3,923
68.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$1.03₩1,438
-65.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$3.36₩4,665
-38.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$0.56₩774
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$8.42₩11.7K
-30.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$1.41₩1,953
9.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$28.2K₩39.2M
-20.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$26.3K₩36.5M
0.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$187₩260.2K
-64.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$33.81₩47.0K
-8.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$18.98₩26.4K
90.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$52.0₩72.3K
10.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$11.11₩15.4K
140.77%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$10.48₩14.6K
-31.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$538₩747.3K
-15.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$21.3K₩29.6M
-37.89%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$54.5₩75.8K
39.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$31.44₩43.7K
72.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$66.9₩93.0K
74.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$76.5₩106.4K
59.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$426₩592.3K
169.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$338₩470.2K
114.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$1,059₩1.5M
136.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$673₩935.8K
97.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$7,357₩10.2M
-47.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$5,196₩7.2M
-58.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Jinju
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
4.08
178.19%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Jinju: August 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,147 in Mexico City versus $426 in Jinju. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City versus $64.0 in Jinju. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $344 vs $442 – making Mexico City 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 Jinju: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jinju cheaper than Mexico City?
Yes – Mexico City is pricier by about 21%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,523 per month in Mexico City and $2,092 in Jinju. 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 Jinju, 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 Jinju?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Mexico City and $64.0 in Jinju. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Jinju?
Interestingly, groceries are about 28% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Jinju?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Jinju, where all-in costs run around $1,395, than in Mexico City at $1,682. In Jinju it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Mexico City or Jinju more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Jinju – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Jinju?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Jinju. 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