😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $680 in Yangzhou.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,087 in Yangzhou.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $1,495 in Yangzhou.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 144% more expensive than in Yangzhou, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Yangzhou is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$2.26¥15.13
427.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$11.00¥73.7
369.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$2.97¥19.88
284.18%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$2.52¥16.88
58.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$0.47¥3.14
253.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$0.21¥1.41
533.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$1.03¥6.87
236.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$1.99¥13.33
196.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$1.16¥7.74
62.07%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$1.95¥13.09
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$0.75¥5.01
188.00%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$1.03¥6.89
181.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$13.99¥93.7
-8.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$2.66¥17.83
277.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$7.01¥46.94
126.25%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$0.73¥4.91
350.68%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$1.75¥11.74
14.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$0.46¥3.08
378.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$1.04¥6.97
126.92%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$0.74¥4.99
177.03%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$0.66¥4.44
187.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$0.78¥5.23
106.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$0.71¥4.78
97.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$3.05¥20.42
79.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$12.14¥81.3
45.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$0.93¥6.23
121.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$1.92¥12.83
143.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$0.33¥2.20
3.03%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$16.53¥111
25.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$1.16¥7.79
81.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$0.28¥1.90
100.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$3.64¥24.37
59.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$1.16¥7.78
38.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$19.0K¥127.2K
20.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$16.3K¥109.2K
64.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$48.67¥326
33.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$8.02¥53.7
275.19%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$11.64¥78.0
219.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$40.48¥271
47.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$16.45¥110
61.40%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$6.18¥41.39
13.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$242¥1,623
91.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$7,585¥50.8K
75.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$89.8¥602
-15.51%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$32.72¥219
71.00%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$64.5¥432
73.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$88.5¥593
36.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$248¥1,663
343.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$164¥1,099
339.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$594¥3,977
326.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$388¥2,596
233.73%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$2,539¥17.0K
57.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$1,792¥12.0K
16.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Yangzhou
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$1,287¥8,618
-19.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
3.1
264.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Yangzhou: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $248 in Yangzhou. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yangzhou pays 24% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $11.00 in Yangzhou for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $184 per month, with Yangzhou 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 Yangzhou: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Yangzhou?
Mexico City and Yangzhou differ by about 144% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $680 including rent). Yangzhou is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Yangzhou. 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 in Yangzhou?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $248 in Yangzhou. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Yangzhou?
A monthly transit pass in Yangzhou runs roughly 26% 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 Yangzhou?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $242 in Yangzhou. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $680 in Yangzhou versus $1,660 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yangzhou but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yangzhou the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Yangzhou?
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.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Yangzhou?
Expats usually find Yangzhou gentler on the wallet – expenses run 144% 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