✦ Compare
Mexico City vs
Seoul
Cost-of-living comparison and salary equivalence. Enter your current salary to see what you'd need to earn to live equally well.
To keep the same standard of living in Seoul, KR, you'd need
$97,943 / year
Seoul, KR is 31% more expensive overall
Category breakdown (Seoul, KR vs Mexico City, MX)
- Housing+50%
- Food & groceries+31%
- Transport+10%
- Utilities0%
- Healthcare0%
- Goods & services+36%
▤ Full comparison
| Mexico City, MX | Seoul, KR | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living | ||
| Overall cost index | 64 | 84 |
| Housing | 60 | 90 |
| Food | 65 | 85 |
| Transport | 50 | 55 |
| Utilities | 80 | 80 |
| Healthcare | 65 | 65 |
| Goods & services | 70 | 95 |
| Housing | ||
| Rent, 1-bed centre | $800/mo | $900/mo |
| Rent, 1-bed outside | $550/mo | $650/mo |
| Rent, 3-bed centre | $1,600/mo | $1,900/mo |
| Buy price / m² centre | $3,200 | $12,000 |
| Money & purchasing power | ||
| $1,000 goes as far as | $1,553 | $1,189 |
| Inexpensive meal | $5 | $8 |
| Monthly transit pass | $20 | $45 |
| Taxes | ||
| Income tax (top rate) | 35% | 45% |
| VAT / sales tax | 16% | 10% |
| Corporate tax | 30% | 24% |
| Economy & salaries | ||
| Avg net salary | $700/mo | $2,500/mo |
| Minimum wage | $420/mo | $1,500/mo |
| GDP per capita | $13,889 | $35,563 |
| Inflation (annual) | 3.8% | 2.3% |
| Work & digital nomad | ||
| Digital-nomad visa | Yes | Yes |
| English proficiency | Low | Moderate |
| Coworking spaces | 70 | 40 |
| Time zone | UTC-6 | UTC+9 |
| Quality of life | ||
| Safety index | 40 | 78 |
| Healthcare index | 68 | 82 |
| Pollution index | 75 | 55 |
| Internet speed | 80 Mbps | 220 Mbps |
| Walkability | 68 | 75 |
| Public transport | 70 | 92 |
| Family-friendly | 60 | 68 |
| Tap water | Use caution | Safe to drink |
| Health insurance | $80/mo | — |
| Life expectancy | 75 yr | 84 yr |
| LGBTQ+ acceptance | Moderate | Low |
| Climate | ||
| January avg | +14 °C | -2 °C |
| July avg | +17 °C | +25 °C |
| Sunny days / year | 240 | 200 |
| Rainfall / year | 850 mm | 1,400 mm |
| Connectivity | ||
| Flight to nearest hub | 1 h | 2 h |
Taxes & Economy & salaries: Mexico vs South Korea. Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.
? Frequently asked questions
Moving from Mexico City to Seoul: cheaper or more expensive?
Moving from Mexico City to Seoul, your cost of living will be roughly 31% more expensive. Seoul’s cost-of-living index is 84 versus 64 for Mexico City (US = 100). Use the salary tool above to see the income you’d need to keep the same lifestyle.
Is Mexico City cheaper than Seoul?
Seoul is about 31% more expensive than Mexico City overall — its cost-of-living index is 84 versus 64 for Mexico City.
How much do you need to earn in Seoul to live like in Mexico City?
To keep the same standard of living, a $75,000 salary in Mexico City is worth about $97,943 in Seoul. Enter your own figure in the calculator above.
Which has lower taxes, Mexico City or Seoul?
Mexico has the lower top income-tax rate — 35% versus 45% in South Korea.
◷ More comparisons from Mexico City
Estimates use approximate cost-of-living indices (US average = 100) and are for general guidance only.