🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $737 in Ongjin versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,158 in Ongjin versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,580 in Ongjin versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Ongjin costs roughly 50% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ongjin is 45% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.92$2.92
$13.18MX$228
-77.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.93$22.93
$53.9MX$932
-57.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31$8.31
$9.42MX$163
-11.78%
Cappuccino
$1.17$1.17
$3.55MX$61.4
-67.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01$1.01
$1.62MX$27.98
-37.65%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04$1.04
$1.11MX$19.27
-6.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.03$7.03
$3.12MX$54.0
125.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33$2.33
$4.63MX$80.1
-49.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90$0.90
$1.70MX$29.43
-47.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.64$1.64
$2.72MX$47.02
-39.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38$2.38
$1.91MX$33.07
24.61%
Eggs
$3.31$3.31
$2.54MX$43.86
30.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.70$4.70
$10.03MX$174
-53.14%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.32$2.32
$8.09MX$140
-71.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.91$5.91
$11.62MX$201
-49.14%
Apples(1kg)
$6.82$6.82
$2.97MX$51.3
129.63%
Banana(1kg)
$4.73$4.73
$1.81MX$31.24
161.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.36$2.36
$2.01MX$34.82
17.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.34$2.34
$2.03MX$35.20
15.27%
Potato(1kg)
$3.54$3.54
$2.12MX$36.75
66.98%
Onion(1kg)
$3.44$3.44
$2.27MX$39.25
51.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.25$2.25
$1.40MX$24.22
60.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47$0.47
$1.13MX$19.55
-58.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66$4.66
$4.27MX$73.9
9.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.94$7.94
$15.56MX$269
-48.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14$1.14
$1.76MX$30.39
-35.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33$2.33
$3.60MX$62.2
-35.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.06$1.06
$0.38MX$6.62
178.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13$41.13
$19.18MX$332
114.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.52$1.52
$1.38MX$23.79
10.14%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.12$2.12
$0.28MX$4.78
657.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$42.31$42.31
$5.45MX$94.2
676.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$1.30MX$22.55
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K$23.5K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
26.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.2K$29.2K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
26.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.86$34.86
$40.86MX$707
-14.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.43$11.43
$26.81MX$464
-57.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.48$46.48
$29.96MX$518
55.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.14$43.14
$52.0MX$900
-17.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.32$15.32
$26.84MX$464
-42.92%
Cinema Ticket
$7.98$7.98
$6.30MX$109
26.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112$112
$436MX$7,544
-74.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,189$2,189
$10.4KMX$180.2K
-78.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.78$22.78
$56.7MX$980
-59.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.77$28.77
$44.38MX$768
-35.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.5$63.5
$103MX$1,780
-38.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.9$87.9
$106MX$1,825
-16.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$91.3$91.3
$1,022MX$17.7K
-91.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$94.0$94.0
$631MX$10.9K
-85.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,336$2,336
$2,136MX$36.9K
9.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140$140
$1,243MX$21.5K
-88.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,783$1,783
$3,903MX$67.5K
-54.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,452$1,452
$2,064MX$35.7K
-29.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ongjin
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216$216
$1,115MX$19.3K
-80.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.11
11.34
-37.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ongjin: May 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.3 in Ongjin and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 417% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $23.00 in Ongjin vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $288 per month, with Ongjin 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
Ongjin vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ongjin and Mexico City?
Ongjin and Mexico City differ by about 99% in total monthly costs ($737 vs $1,467 including rent). Ongjin is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 417% 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 Ongjin and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $91.3 in Ongjin versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Ongjin and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Ongjin runs roughly 114% 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 Ongjin and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $112 in Ongjin 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 $1,500 per month?
At $737 in Ongjin versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ongjin but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ongjin the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ongjin 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 Ongjin or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ongjin 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: Ongjin or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Ongjin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.