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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,291 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $2,054 in Fukuoka, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $2,818 in Fukuoka, rent included.

Mexico City costs about 14% more than Fukuoka, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Fukuoka is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18 MX$228
$8.28 ¥1,324
59.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9 MX$934
$41.70 ¥6,670
29.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 MX$163
$6.15 ¥984
53.17%
Cappuccino
$3.55 MX$61.5
$3.14 ¥503
13.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.03
$1.03 ¥165
57.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 MX$19.31
$0.82 ¥132
35.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 MX$54.1
$1.65 ¥263
89.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 MX$80.2
$2.09 ¥335
121.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$29.48
$1.66 ¥265
2.41%
White Bread (500g)
$2.72 MX$47.10
$1.60 ¥256
70.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MX$33.13
$4.06 ¥649
-52.96%
Eggs
$2.54 MX$43.94
$2.62 ¥419
-3.05%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.03 MX$174
$21.12 ¥3,378
-52.51%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.09 MX$140
$6.24 ¥997
29.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 MX$201
$20.96 ¥3,353
-44.56%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 MX$51.4
$3.13 ¥501
-5.11%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.30
$1.36 ¥217
33.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.88
$1.42 ¥227
41.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.03 MX$35.26
$5.96 ¥953
-65.94%
Potato (1kg)
$2.12 MX$36.82
$2.69 ¥431
-21.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.32
$3.11 ¥497
-27.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.40 MX$24.26
$0.90 ¥145
55.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.59
$0.75 ¥120
50.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27 MX$74.0
$3.78 ¥604
12.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.56 MX$270
$6.08 ¥972
155.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.44
$1.91 ¥305
-7.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 MX$62.3
$2.11 ¥337
70.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.38 MX$6.64
$1.76 ¥281
-78.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.18 MX$332
$42.39 ¥6,780
-54.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.38 MX$23.84
$4.74 ¥758
-70.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.79
$4.57 ¥732
-93.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.45 MX$94.4
$19.52 ¥3,122
-72.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 MX$22.60
$1.20 ¥192
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7K MX$323.8K
$23.6K ¥3.8M
-20.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1K MX$400.8K
$20.0K ¥3.2M
15.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.86 MX$708
$216 ¥34.6K
-81.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 MX$465
$27.65 ¥4,423
-3.04%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96 MX$519
$35.41 ¥5,664
-15.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 MX$901
$59.1 ¥9,450
-11.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84 MX$465
$3.48 ¥557
671.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30 MX$109
$13.62 ¥2,179
-53.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,558
$416 ¥66.6K
4.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.4K MX$180.5K
$13.2K ¥2.1M
-21.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7 MX$982
$42.93 ¥6,866
31.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38 MX$769
$29.81 ¥4,767
48.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,784
$66.0 ¥10.6K
55.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106 MX$1,829
$61.7 ¥9,872
70.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,022 MX$17.7K
$547 ¥87.5K
86.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MX$10.9K
$300 ¥48.1K
109.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,136 MX$37.0K
$1,035 ¥165.6K
106.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,243 MX$21.5K
$695 ¥111.2K
78.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,903 MX$67.6K
$6,425 ¥1.0M
-39.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,064 MX$35.8K
$2,669 ¥426.9K
-22.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Fukuoka
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,115 MX$19.3K
$1,531 ¥244.9K
-27.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.34
1.67
579.04%

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

Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Fukuoka: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $547 in Fukuoka. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Fukuoka, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Mexico City versus $42.00 in Fukuoka. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $329 in Fukuoka – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Mexico City vs Fukuoka: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and Fukuoka compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City, $1,291 in Fukuoka – roughly 14% apart. Mexico City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Fukuoka?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,937 in Fukuoka. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Fukuoka?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Fukuoka, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Fukuoka?
Kindergarten costs $436 per month in Mexico City and $416 in Fukuoka. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 14% cheaper in Mexico City – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fukuoka, where all-in costs run around $1,291, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Fukuoka it covers expenses comfortably, while in Mexico City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Fukuoka?
It depends on your priorities. Fukuoka has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,291 in Fukuoka to $1,467 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Fukuoka safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Fukuoka?
If budget matters most, go with Fukuoka. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mexico City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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