😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $1,384 in New Taipei City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,281 in New Taipei City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $3,179 in New Taipei City.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 7% more expensive than New Taipei City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, New Taipei City3% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$226
$5.16NT$163
151.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$923
$34.11NT$1,077
55.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$169
$5.67NT$179
71.43%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.2
$2.94NT$92.7
27.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.30
$0.89NT$28.00
76.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.64
$0.78NT$24.78
44.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.3
$2.05NT$64.6
55.12%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.1
$2.74NT$86.4
70.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.21
$3.20NT$101
-49.38%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.09
$1.89NT$59.8
43.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.70
$3.01NT$95.1
-37.54%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.65
$2.92NT$92.2
-14.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$175
$20.31NT$641
-50.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$144
$8.78NT$277
-5.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$208
$20.32NT$641
-41.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.77
$4.67NT$148
-38.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.45
$2.64NT$83.3
-33.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.27
$2.73NT$86.1
-23.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.27
$4.21NT$133
-53.21%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.58
$2.81NT$88.6
-23.13%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$37.94
$2.29NT$72.3
-4.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.20
$2.03NT$64.1
-31.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.57
$1.30NT$41.19
-13.85%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.1
$4.04NT$128
3.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$248
$9.37NT$296
52.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.65NT$52.1
6.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.1
$2.34NT$73.7
57.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.71
$0.65NT$20.45
-40.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$325
$41.17NT$1,300
-54.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.12
$2.84NT$89.8
-51.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.29
$0.74NT$23.48
-59.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.3
$10.21NT$322
-46.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.50
$1.07NT$33.81
26.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$328.6K
$38.7KNT$1.2M
-51.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.8K
$28.0KNT$885.3K
-17.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$710
$97.4NT$3,076
-58.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$479
$24.77NT$782
11.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$529
$24.23NT$765
25.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$930
$39.12NT$1,235
36.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$458
$16.27NT$514
61.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$109
$11.65NT$368
-46.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,588
$633NT$20.0K
-31.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.1K
$18.7KNT$589.8K
-43.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$988
$78.3NT$2,472
-27.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$779
$34.44NT$1,087
30.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,789
$95.0NT$2,998
8.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$123NT$3,889
-12.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.4K
$655NT$20.7K
52.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.8K
$464NT$14.6K
33.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.2K
$1,731NT$54.6K
23.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.5K
$1,083NT$34.2K
14.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.3K
$12.7KNT$399.6K
-69.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.6K
$7,233NT$228.4K
-67.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
New Taipei City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.6K
$1,366NT$43.1K
-21.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
2.19
417.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for New Taipei City: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $655 in New Taipei City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰New Taipei City pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $34.00 in New Taipei City. Groceries flip the comparison at $286 vs $380, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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 New Taipei City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and New Taipei City?
Mexico City and New Taipei City differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $1,384 including rent). New Taipei City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, New Taipei City earns 28% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and New Taipei City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $655 in New Taipei City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and New Taipei City?
A monthly transit pass in New Taipei City runs roughly 121% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and New Taipei City?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $633 in New Taipei City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,384 in New Taipei City versus $1,484 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in New Taipei City but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes New Taipei City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and New Taipei City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or New Taipei City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and New Taipei City are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or New Taipei City?
Expats usually find New Taipei City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared