😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,466 in Mexico City versus $1,240 in Uijeongbu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,325 in Mexico City versus $2,011 in Uijeongbu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,184 in Mexico City versus $2,782 in Uijeongbu.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 18% more expensive than Uijeongbu, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Uijeongbu is 7% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.30MX$231
$5.80₩8,580
129.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$932
$54.2₩80.2K
-0.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.79₩8,556
62.69%
Cappuccino
$3.59MX$62.3
$3.34₩4,933
7.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.13₩1,669
43.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.49
$0.85₩1,253
31.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.25MX$56.3
$2.22₩3,277
46.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65MX$80.6
$2.90₩4,282
60.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64MX$28.37
$2.24₩3,313
-26.79%
White Bread(500g)
$2.65MX$46.00
$3.49₩5,159
-24.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.99
$3.21₩4,742
-38.94%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.08
$3.18₩4,706
-20.13%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.97MX$173
$14.52₩21.5K
-31.34%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.39MX$145
$10.79₩15.9K
-22.24%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.83MX$205
$34.37₩50.8K
-65.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$49.62
$7.79₩11.5K
-63.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73MX$30.05
$3.43₩5,077
-49.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.99MX$34.50
$5.65₩8,355
-64.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.51
$6.53₩9,651
-68.61%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.64
$3.99₩5,894
-48.37%
Onion(1kg)
$2.28MX$39.54
$2.98₩4,400
-23.49%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.45MX$25.05
$2.63₩3,894
-44.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.09MX$18.83
$1.15₩1,706
-5.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$3.40₩5,034
25.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.67MX$254
$15.16₩22.4K
-3.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.58
$2.36₩3,484
-25.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57MX$61.8
$3.39₩5,007
5.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.67
$1.11₩1,643
-65.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.73MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.09
$3.55₩5,241
-60.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.26
$0.53₩776
-43.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.41MX$93.8
$8.69₩12.9K
-37.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.22
$1.25₩1,851
7.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$326.7K
$27.9K₩41.3M
-32.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$402.0K
$24.6K₩36.4M
-5.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.30MX$698
$145₩214.8K
-72.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15MX$471
$34.88₩51.6K
-22.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.46MX$510
$22.29₩33.0K
32.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.7MX$914
$47.72₩70.5K
10.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.17MX$454
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$107
$10.93₩16.2K
-43.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$441MX$7,637
$407₩602.3K
8.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$185.4K
$23.3K₩34.4M
-54.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.2MX$992
$59.3₩87.7K
-3.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04MX$781
$47.72₩70.6K
-5.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,793
$80.9₩119.5K
27.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,884
$116₩171.9K
-6.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.3K
$254₩376.0K
293.07%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$632MX$11.0K
$224₩331.8K
181.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,141MX$37.1K
$479₩708.8K
346.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,253MX$21.7K
$399₩589.8K
214.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,745MX$64.9K
$8,304₩12.3M
-54.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,381MX$41.3K
$5,354₩7.9M
-55.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Uijeongbu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,079MX$18.7K
$2,005₩3.0M
-46.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.14
173.91%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 20, 2026
Last update for Uijeongbu: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $254 in Uijeongbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Uijeongbu pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Mexico City vs $54 in Uijeongbu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $489 per month, with Mexico City cheaper across the board.
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 Uijeongbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Uijeongbu?
Mexico City and Uijeongbu differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($1,466 vs $1,240 including rent). Uijeongbu is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Uijeongbu earns 86% 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 Uijeongbu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $254 in Uijeongbu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Uijeongbu?
Childcare runs $441 in Mexico City versus $407 in Uijeongbu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Uijeongbu – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,240 in Uijeongbu versus $1,466 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Uijeongbu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Uijeongbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Uijeongbu?
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 Uijeongbu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Uijeongbu 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 Uijeongbu?
Expats usually find Uijeongbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% 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