πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,093 in Yilan versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,693 in Yilan versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,294 in Yilan versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
πLiving in Yilan costs roughly 26% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Yilan is 18% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.62NT$114
$13.18MX$228
-72.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.73NT$967
$53.9MX$932
-42.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.34NT$168
$9.42MX$163
-43.31%
Cappuccino
$2.95NT$93.0
$3.55MX$61.4
-16.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10NT$34.59
$1.62MX$27.98
-32.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69NT$21.65
$1.11MX$19.27
-37.84%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55NT$48.92
$3.12MX$54.0
-50.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91NT$91.6
$4.63MX$80.1
-37.15%
π Groceries & Markets
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.57NT$112
$1.70MX$29.43
110.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77NT$55.8
$2.72MX$47.02
-34.93%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00NT$62.9
$1.91MX$33.07
4.71%
Eggs
$2.63NT$82.7
$2.54MX$43.86
3.54%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$31.73NT$999
$10.03MX$174
216.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.91NT$249
$8.09MX$140
-2.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.67NT$493
$11.62MX$201
34.85%
Apples(1kg)
$4.73NT$149
$2.97MX$51.3
59.26%
Banana(1kg)
$0.87NT$27.39
$1.81MX$31.24
-51.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.31NT$72.6
$2.01MX$34.82
14.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.73NT$54.5
$2.03MX$35.20
-14.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34NT$42.19
$2.12MX$36.75
-36.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39NT$43.91
$2.27MX$39.25
-38.77%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.17NT$68.3
$1.40MX$24.22
55.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.30NT$40.82
$1.13MX$19.55
15.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.19NT$132
$4.27MX$73.9
-1.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.23NT$511
$15.56MX$269
4.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.44NT$45.24
$1.76MX$30.39
-18.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.66NT$83.7
$3.60MX$62.2
-26.11%
π Getting Around
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.00NT$31.63
$0.38MX$6.62
163.16%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.29NT$1,079
$19.18MX$332
78.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.85NT$89.6
$1.38MX$23.79
106.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.19NT$37.49
$0.28MX$4.78
325.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.97NT$314
$5.45MX$94.2
82.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05NT$32.91
$1.30MX$22.55
-19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6KNT$838.1K
$18.7KMX$323.2K
42.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KNT$741.1K
$23.1KMX$400.1K
1.79%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$59.6NT$1,877
$40.86MX$707
45.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18NT$541
$26.81MX$464
-35.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.06NT$694
$29.96MX$518
-26.37%
π Sport & Entertainment
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$31.87NT$1,003
$52.0MX$900
-38.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.17NT$541
$26.84MX$464
-36.03%
Cinema Ticket
$9.79NT$308
$6.30MX$109
55.40%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$359NT$11.3K
$436MX$7,544
-17.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$20.4KNT$642.6K
$10.4KMX$180.2K
95.97%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9NT$2,230
$56.7MX$980
25.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.23NT$1,077
$44.38MX$768
-22.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7NT$2,477
$103MX$1,780
-23.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.8NT$2,731
$106MX$1,825
-17.79%
π Accommodation & Living
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$303NT$9,544
$1,022MX$17.7K
-70.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$292NT$9,185
$631MX$10.9K
-53.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$669NT$21.1K
$2,136MX$36.9K
-68.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$492NT$15.5K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-60.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,553NT$237.7K
$3,903MX$67.5K
93.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,424NT$170.7K
$2,064MX$35.7K
162.75%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Yilan
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,040NT$32.7K
$1,115MX$19.3K
-6.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.18
11.34
-80.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yilan: June 2, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in Yilan and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Mexico City pays 7% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $31.00 in Yilan vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $376 vs $288, 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
Yilan vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yilan and Mexico City?
Yilan and Mexico City differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,093 vs $1,467 including rent). Yilan is meaningfully more affordable β a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Mexico City earns 7% 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 Yilan and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $303 in Yilan 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 Yilan and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Yilan runs roughly 79% 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 Yilan and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $359 in Yilan 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 $1,093 in Yilan versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Yilan but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Yilan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yilan and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Yilan or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yilan 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: Yilan or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Yilan gentler on the wallet β expenses run 34% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.