🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,263 in Fukushima versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,991 in Fukushima versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,718 in Fukushima versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Fukushima costs roughly 13% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Fukushima is 5% below, Mexico City is 9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.90¥1,121
$13.07MX$228
-47.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.55¥5,939
$53.8MX$936
-32.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.09¥1,152
$9.68MX$169
-26.76%
Cappuccino
$3.77¥612
$3.74MX$65.1
0.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91¥147
$1.62MX$28.13
-43.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81¥132
$1.16MX$20.23
-30.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.62¥425
$3.23MX$56.2
-18.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06¥498
$4.74MX$82.5
-35.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥258
$1.65MX$28.68
-3.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.55¥251
$2.75MX$47.95
-43.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.87¥792
$1.87MX$32.63
160.43%
Eggs
$2.21¥359
$2.50MX$43.54
-11.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.21¥1,659
$10.20MX$178
0.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.50¥1,057
$8.25MX$144
-21.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.38¥2,498
$11.82MX$206
30.12%
Apples(1kg)
$5.25¥853
$3.01MX$52.4
74.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.53¥411
$1.81MX$31.54
39.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.94¥641
$2.00MX$34.81
97.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$6.02¥977
$2.00MX$34.74
201.00%
Potato(1kg)
$3.05¥495
$2.08MX$36.30
46.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.58¥420
$2.27MX$39.56
13.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.38¥224
$1.46MX$25.36
-5.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85¥138
$1.08MX$18.74
-21.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.08¥662
$4.35MX$75.7
-6.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.49¥1,217
$16.99MX$296
-55.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90¥309
$1.73MX$30.18
9.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17¥353
$3.58MX$62.3
-39.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.67¥272
$0.39MX$6.74
328.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$54.7¥8,893
$18.69MX$325
192.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.49¥567
$1.33MX$23.08
162.41%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.00¥488
$0.28MX$4.87
971.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.66¥3,356
$5.25MX$91.5
293.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.23¥200
$1.34MX$23.27
-8.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K¥3.8M
$19.4KMX$338.0K
20.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.0K¥2.8M
$23.8KMX$415.0K
-28.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$145¥23.6K
$40.69MX$709
256.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39¥4,449
$26.87MX$468
1.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.20¥5,557
$30.51MX$531
12.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$56.2¥9,136
$52.8MX$919
6.54%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.97¥2,270
$26.65MX$464
-47.58%
Cinema Ticket
$12.24¥1,989
$6.51MX$113
88.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$285¥46.3K
$428MX$7,454
-33.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7K¥2.2M
$10.5KMX$182.8K
30.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.31¥7,037
$57.3MX$997
-24.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98¥4,709
$45.50MX$792
-36.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.7¥9,866
$104MX$1,812
-41.64%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.7¥14.9K
$108MX$1,878
-15.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$473¥76.9K
$1,003MX$17.5K
-52.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$323¥52.5K
$623MX$10.8K
-48.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$872¥141.7K
$2,109MX$36.7K
-58.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$646¥104.9K
$1,218MX$21.2K
-47.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,918¥799.1K
$3,885MX$67.6K
26.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332¥378.9K
$2,033MX$35.4K
14.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fukushima
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.78
11.34
-84.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fukushima: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $473 in Fukushima and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Fukushima vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $315 vs $292, 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
Fukushima vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Fukushima?
Fukushima is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,895 in Fukushima and $2,185 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Fukushima and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $473 in Fukushima versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Fukushima and in Mexico City?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 8% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is eating out cheaper in Fukushima or in Mexico City?
Dining out is cheaper in Fukushima – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Fukushima or in Mexico City?
At $1,263 in Fukushima versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Fukushima but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Fukushima the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fukushima or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Fukushima is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fukushima or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Fukushima 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Fukushima gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.