Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Kamakura

For one person, living is cheaper in Kamakura: $1,194 a month against $1,567 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $4,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,567
/mo nomad
Kamakura
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,194
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Mexico City and in Kamakura

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mexico City and in Kamakura actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,567 in Mexico City versus $1,194 in Kamakura.

  • Mexico City $1,567
  • Kamakura $1,194

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,450 in Mexico City versus $1,888 in Kamakura.

  • Mexico City $2,450
  • Kamakura $1,888

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,333 in Mexico City versus $2,582 in Kamakura.

  • Mexico City $3,333
  • Kamakura $2,582

Living in Mexico City is roughly 31% more expensive than in Kamakura, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 16% above, Kamakura is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.75 MX$199
$6.34 ¥1,002
69.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.3 MX$929
$31.78 ¥5,020
58.12%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.10 MX$205
$4.98 ¥787
122.89%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$2.48 ¥392
48.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.65 MX$30.42
$1.08 ¥171
52.78%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.30 MX$24.08
$0.80 ¥127
62.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.32 MX$61.3
$2.57 ¥406
29.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.54 MX$102
$3.22 ¥509
72.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.77 MX$32.68
$1.38 ¥219
28.26%
White Bread (500g)
$3.05 MX$56.4
$1.50 ¥237
103.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.01 MX$37.20
$3.67 ¥580
-45.23%
Eggs
$2.77 MX$51.1
$1.99 ¥315
39.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.91 MX$220
$10.47 ¥1,654
13.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.33 MX$172
$6.18 ¥976
50.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.02 MX$278
$14.39 ¥2,274
4.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.08 MX$56.8
$5.61 ¥886
-45.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.95 MX$35.97
$2.69 ¥424
-27.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.54
$2.89 ¥457
-29.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.21 MX$40.92
$4.30 ¥679
-48.60%
Potato (1kg)
$2.02 MX$37.41
$2.50 ¥395
-19.20%
Onion (1kg)
$1.82 MX$33.67
$2.55 ¥403
-28.63%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.13 ¥179
34.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 MX$23.65
$0.76 ¥120
68.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.27 MX$97.4
$3.71 ¥587
42.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.12 MX$298
$6.44 ¥1,017
150.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.95 MX$36.05
$1.81 ¥286
7.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$78.6
$2.04 ¥322
108.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.82
$1.50 ¥237
-79.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.85 MX$367
$56.5 ¥8,926
-64.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.93
$3.08 ¥487
-35.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.86
$2.76 ¥436
-80.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.62 MX$104
$15.85 ¥2,505
-64.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.07
$1.10 ¥173
38.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K MX$388.7K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
-2.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2K MX$465.3K
$15.3K ¥2.4M
64.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$62.5 MX$1,155
$118 ¥18.6K
-46.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77 MX$532
$23.42 ¥3,700
22.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.45 MX$637
$31.10 ¥4,913
10.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 MX$1,055
$52.8 ¥8,335
8.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.81 MX$458
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.67 MX$123
$12.67 ¥2,001
-47.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$431 MX$7,964
$584 ¥92.3K
-26.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.7K MX$216.9K
$14.8K ¥2.3M
-20.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 MX$1,308
$50.9 ¥8,044
39.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.8 MX$958
$35.32 ¥5,580
46.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MX$2,011
$59.9 ¥9,456
81.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$112 MX$2,076
$97.5 ¥15.4K
15.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,051 MX$19.4K
$568 ¥89.7K
85.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 MX$12.3K
$346 ¥54.7K
92.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,346 MX$43.3K
$1,212 ¥191.4K
93.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,227 MX$22.7K
$748 ¥118.3K
63.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,554 MX$65.7K
$4,369 ¥690.2K
-18.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,977 MX$36.5K
$1,979 ¥312.6K
-0.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$975 MX$18.0K
$1,785 ¥282.0K
-45.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
2.02
459.41%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 11, 2026

Last update for Kamakura: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$665
Kamakura
$346 47.9% $319
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$323
Kamakura
$286 11.2% $36
Eating Out
Mexico City
$203
Kamakura
$122 39.8% $81
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$155
Kamakura
$110 29.1% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Kamakura
$172 36.9% $46
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Kamakura
$78 10.9% $7.7
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Kamakura
$79 208% $54

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,051 in Mexico City and $568 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kamakura pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $50.0 in Mexico City vs $32.00 in Kamakura for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $323 vs $286 per month, with Kamakura cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇯🇵 Kamakura
🕒 Local time
19:31 7:31 PM
10:31 10:31 AM
15 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
172,710
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18.48 MXN (100 MXN = 5.41 USD). 1 EUR = 20.77 MXN (100 MXN = 4.81 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 178 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.63 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Kamakura 11,340 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Kamakura

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Kamakura?
On paper, salaries run 83% lower in Kamakura. 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: $1,051 in Mexico City versus $568 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $431 in Mexico City versus $584 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 in Kamakura?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Kamakura?
At $1,194 in Kamakura versus $1,567 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 31% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?