😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,294 in Kamakura.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,992 in Kamakura.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,690 in Kamakura.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 13% more expensive than Kamakura, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Kamakura is 3% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$7.05¥1,127
86.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$35.17¥5,625
53.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.67¥907
66.14%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$3.13¥501
13.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$1.21¥194
33.88%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.76¥121
46.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.07¥331
50.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$3.19¥509
45.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.52¥244
11.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.75¥281
55.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$5.02¥803
-61.95%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$2.27¥364
11.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$13.81¥2,209
-27.37%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.87¥1,099
17.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$17.62¥2,818
-34.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$5.91¥946
-49.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$2.89¥462
-37.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$4.09¥654
-50.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$6.09¥974
-66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$3.27¥523
-35.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$2.57¥411
-11.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.39¥222
0.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$1.06¥169
6.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$3.41¥545
25.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$9.27¥1,483
67.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.84¥294
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$2.39¥383
50.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$1.61¥258
-76.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$55.3¥8,849
-65.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$3.49¥559
-60.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$2.98¥477
-90.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$17.59¥2,814
-69.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.23¥197
5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$23.6K¥3.8M
-20.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$16.9K¥2.7M
36.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$143¥22.9K
-71.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$26.75¥4,278
0.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$33.96¥5,432
-11.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$55.4¥8,853
-6.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$14.04¥2,245
91.17%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$12.51¥2,001
-49.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$287¥45.8K
52.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$11.3K¥1.8M
-7.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$42.28¥6,763
33.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$29.29¥4,685
51.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$56.6¥9,046
81.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$93.6¥15.0K
12.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$476¥76.2K
114.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$326¥52.2K
93.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$864¥138.2K
147.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$656¥104.9K
89.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$4,481¥716.7K
-12.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$2,206¥352.9K
-6.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,760¥281.5K
-36.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
1.78
537.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kamakura: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $476 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kamakura pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Kamakura. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $350, 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
Mexico City vs Kamakura: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kamakura cheaper than Mexico City?
Kamakura is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Kamakura?
On paper, Kamakura earns 58% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Kamakura?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $476 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $287 in Kamakura. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and Kamakura?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 21% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Kamakura?
At $1,294 in Kamakura versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kamakura but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Kamakura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Kamakura more family-friendly?
For families, Kamakura 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, Mexico City or Kamakura?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Kamakura 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 Kamakura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared