🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $983 in Zhongli City versus $1,646 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Zhongli City versus $2,613 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,333 in Zhongli City versus $3,580 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Zhongli City costs roughly 40% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zhongli City is 28% below, Mexico City is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.77NT$151
$12.11MX$206
-60.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.41NT$997
$52.2MX$887
-39.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.69NT$149
$10.90MX$185
-56.97%
Cappuccino
$2.49NT$78.9
$4.05MX$68.8
-38.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99NT$31.26
$1.72MX$29.13
-42.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.74NT$23.36
$1.38MX$23.40
-46.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.54NT$48.80
$3.47MX$58.9
-55.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87NT$91.0
$5.81MX$98.7
-50.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$3.33NT$106
$1.85MX$31.48
80.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.75NT$55.5
$3.22MX$54.7
-45.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.75NT$87.2
$2.09MX$35.42
31.58%
Eggs
$2.52NT$79.9
$2.91MX$49.41
-13.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.79NT$406
$12.49MX$212
2.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.85NT$217
$10.11MX$172
-32.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.84NT$503
$15.89MX$270
-0.31%
Apples(1kg)
$3.82NT$121
$3.31MX$56.3
15.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89NT$60.0
$2.13MX$36.12
-11.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78NT$56.4
$2.19MX$37.20
-18.72%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.18NT$69.2
$2.45MX$41.57
-11.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25NT$39.71
$2.19MX$37.18
-42.92%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98NT$62.7
$1.90MX$32.35
4.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.36NT$75.0
$1.62MX$27.44
45.68%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90NT$28.46
$1.35MX$22.92
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.95NT$125
$5.43MX$92.1
-27.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.75NT$500
$17.59MX$299
-10.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62NT$51.4
$2.07MX$35.12
-21.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46NT$78.1
$4.75MX$80.6
-48.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60NT$19.13
$0.34MX$5.77
76.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.18NT$1,211
$21.58MX$366
76.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.73NT$86.5
$2.04MX$34.65
33.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57NT$18.05
$0.58MX$9.82
-1.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.38NT$298
$5.97MX$101
57.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02NT$32.39
$1.62MX$27.44
-37.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.4KNT$1.1M
$22.8KMX$387.4K
46.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KNT$741.2K
$26.7KMX$452.8K
-12.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103NT$3,268
$65.2MX$1,108
57.88%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.94NT$474
$29.87MX$507
-49.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.68NT$561
$36.55MX$621
-51.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$61.0MX$1,036
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$26.70MX$453
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.61NT$305
$6.85MX$116
40.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$341NT$10.8K
$453MX$7,700
-24.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.9KNT$536.1K
$13.4KMX$227.1K
26.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.2NT$2,194
$75.0MX$1,273
-7.75%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.57NT$1,160
$55.3MX$939
-33.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.7NT$1,735
$114MX$1,929
-51.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109NT$3,473
$123MX$2,083
-10.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$457NT$14.5K
$1,134MX$19.3K
-59.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$252NT$7,986
$712MX$12.1K
-64.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$908NT$28.8K
$2,571MX$43.7K
-64.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$740NT$23.5K
$1,311MX$22.3K
-43.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,993MX$67.8K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,095MX$35.6K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zhongli City
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,314NT$73.4K
$1,047MX$17.8K
121.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.1
11.3
-81.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zhongli City: August 31, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $457 in Zhongli City and $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zhongli City pays 121% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $31.00 in Zhongli City vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $313 vs $345 per month, with Zhongli City 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
Zhongli City vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Zhongli City and in Mexico City?
Zhongli City and Mexico City differ by about 68% in total monthly costs ($983 vs $1,646 including rent). Zhongli City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Zhongli City or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 121% higher in Zhongli City, 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 Zhongli City and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $457 in Zhongli City versus $1,134 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Zhongli City and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Zhongli City runs roughly 77% 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 Zhongli City and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $341 in Zhongli City versus $453 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 $983 in Zhongli City versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zhongli City but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Zhongli City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Zhongli 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 Zhongli City or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Zhongli 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: Zhongli City or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Zhongli City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Zhongli City vs other spots: cost of living compared