Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Pyongyang and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $247 in Pyongyang versus $1,456 in Mexico City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $389 in Pyongyang versus $2,361 in Mexico City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $531 in Pyongyang versus $3,266 in Mexico City.

Living in Pyongyang costs roughly 83% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Pyongyang is 82% below, Mexico City is 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.07 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.89 $22.89

$53.8 MX$943

-57.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.68 MX$170

Cappuccino

$1.19 $1.19

$3.74 MX$65.6

-68.18%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.25 $2.25

$1.62 MX$28.34

38.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.16 MX$20.37

-2.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$13.78 $13.78

$3.23 MX$56.6

326.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 $3.37

$4.74 MX$83.1

-28.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$1.65 MX$28.89

-40.00%

White Bread (500g)

$2.41 $2.41

$2.75 MX$48.30

-12.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 $0.98

$1.87 MX$32.87

-47.59%

Eggs

$2.03 $2.03

$2.50 MX$43.86

-18.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 MX$179

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.25 MX$145

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 MX$207

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MX$52.8

Banana (1kg)

$1.81 MX$31.77

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.07

Tomato (1kg)

$2.00 MX$35.00

Potato (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.56

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 MX$39.85

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 MX$25.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 MX$18.88

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.35 MX$76.3

Wine (Bottle)

$16.99 MX$298

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.73 MX$30.40

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 MX$62.7

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.79

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.69 MX$328

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.33 MX$23.25

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.91

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 MX$92.1

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.34 MX$23.44

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$19.4K MX$340.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.8K MX$418.0K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.69 MX$714

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$26.87 MX$471

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.51 MX$535

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.8 MX$926

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.65 MX$467

Cinema Ticket

$6.51 MX$114

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$428 MX$7,508

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$184.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 MX$1,004

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.50 MX$798

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MX$1,825

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,891

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.9 $91.9

$1,003 MX$17.6K

-90.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.5 $91.5

$623 MX$10.9K

-85.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 $136

$1,218 MX$21.4K

-88.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,885 MX$68.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,033 MX$35.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$250 $250

$1,038 MX$18.2K

-75.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Pyongyang: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.9 in Pyongyang and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays 315% 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 Pyongyang vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $46.00 vs $292 per month, with Pyongyang cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated June 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Pyongyang vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pyongyang and Mexico City differ by about 491% in total monthly costs ($247 vs $1,456 including rent). Pyongyang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 315% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $91.9 in Pyongyang versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pyongyang – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $247 per month in Pyongyang versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 491% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $247 in Pyongyang versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Pyongyang but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Pyongyang the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Pyongyang 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.

Expats usually find Pyongyang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 491% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.