🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,384 in New Taipei City versus $1,484 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,281 in New Taipei City versus $2,381 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,179 in New Taipei City versus $3,278 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in New Taipei City costs roughly 7% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: New Taipei City3% above, Mexico City11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.16NT$163
$12.98MX$226
-60.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.11NT$1,077
$53.1MX$923
-35.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.67NT$179
$9.72MX$169
-41.67%
Cappuccino
$2.94NT$92.7
$3.75MX$65.2
-21.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89NT$28.00
$1.57MX$27.30
-43.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78NT$24.78
$1.13MX$19.64
-30.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.05NT$64.6
$3.18MX$55.3
-35.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NT$86.4
$4.66MX$81.1
-41.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.20NT$101
$1.62MX$28.21
97.53%
White Bread(500g)
$1.89NT$59.8
$2.71MX$47.09
-30.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01NT$95.1
$1.88MX$32.70
60.11%
Eggs
$2.92NT$92.2
$2.51MX$43.65
16.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$20.31NT$641
$10.08MX$175
101.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.78NT$277
$8.29MX$144
5.91%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.32NT$641
$11.94MX$208
70.18%
Apples(1kg)
$4.67NT$148
$2.86MX$49.77
63.29%
Banana(1kg)
$2.64NT$83.3
$1.75MX$30.45
50.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.73NT$86.1
$2.08MX$36.27
31.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.21NT$133
$1.97MX$34.27
113.71%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81NT$88.6
$2.16MX$37.58
30.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.29NT$72.3
$2.18MX$37.94
5.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.03NT$64.1
$1.39MX$24.20
46.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30NT$41.19
$1.12MX$19.57
16.07%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04NT$128
$4.20MX$73.1
-3.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.37NT$296
$14.25MX$248
-34.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65NT$52.1
$1.76MX$30.68
-6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34NT$73.7
$3.68MX$64.1
-36.41%
🚌 Getting Around
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65NT$20.45
$0.39MX$6.71
66.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.17NT$1,300
$18.66MX$325
120.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.84NT$89.8
$1.39MX$24.12
104.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74NT$23.48
$0.30MX$5.29
146.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$10.21NT$322
$5.42MX$94.3
88.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07NT$33.81
$1.35MX$23.50
-20.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.7KNT$1.2M
$18.9KMX$328.6K
104.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KNT$885.3K
$23.2KMX$402.8K
21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.4NT$3,076
$40.82MX$710
138.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.77NT$782
$27.50MX$479
-9.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.23NT$765
$30.38MX$529
-20.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.12NT$1,235
$53.4MX$930
-26.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.27NT$514
$26.30MX$458
-38.14%
Cinema Ticket
$11.65NT$368
$6.27MX$109
85.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$633NT$20.0K
$436MX$7,588
45.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$18.7KNT$589.8K
$10.5KMX$182.1K
78.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$78.3NT$2,472
$56.8MX$988
37.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.44NT$1,087
$44.79MX$779
-23.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.0NT$2,998
$103MX$1,789
-7.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123NT$3,889
$108MX$1,878
14.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$655NT$20.7K
$1,000MX$17.4K
-34.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$464NT$14.6K
$620MX$10.8K
-25.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,731NT$54.6K
$2,137MX$37.2K
-19.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,083NT$34.2K
$1,235MX$21.5K
-12.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$12.7KNT$399.6K
$3,865MX$67.3K
227.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$7,233NT$228.4K
$2,332MX$40.6K
210.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
New Taipei City
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,366NT$43.1K
$1,067MX$18.6K
27.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.19
11.34
-80.69%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for New Taipei City: April 26, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $655 in New Taipei City and $1,000 in Mexico 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: $34.00 in New Taipei City vs $53.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $380 vs $286, 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
New Taipei City vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in New Taipei City and Mexico City?
New Taipei City and Mexico City differ by about 7% in total monthly costs ($1,384 vs $1,484 including rent). New Taipei City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: New Taipei City or Mexico City?
New Taipei City pays 28% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in New Taipei City and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $655 in New Taipei City versus $1,000 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in New Taipei City and Mexico 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 New Taipei City and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $633 in New Taipei City versus $436 in Mexico 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 New Taipei City and Mexico 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 New Taipei City or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, New Taipei City and Mexico 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: New Taipei City or Mexico 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.
New Taipei City vs other spots: cost of living compared