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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,293 in Kamakura.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $2,024 in Kamakura.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,754 in Kamakura.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 13% more expensive than in Kamakura, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Kamakura is 3% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07 MX$228
$6.83 ¥1,109
91.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8 MX$936
$34.72 ¥5,642
54.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.68 MX$169
$5.45 ¥885
77.61%
Cappuccino
$3.74 MX$65.1
$3.11 ¥506
20.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62 MX$28.13
$1.19 ¥194
36.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 MX$20.23
$0.75 ¥122
54.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.23 MX$56.2
$2.04 ¥332
58.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74 MX$82.5
$3.11 ¥505
52.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 MX$28.68
$1.50 ¥244
10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$2.75 MX$47.95
$1.69 ¥275
62.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MX$32.63
$4.84 ¥787
-61.36%
Eggs
$2.50 MX$43.54
$2.23 ¥363
12.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 MX$178
$13.73 ¥2,231
-25.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.25 MX$144
$6.77 ¥1,100
21.86%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.82 MX$206
$17.60 ¥2,860
-32.84%
Apples (1kg)
$3.01 MX$52.4
$6.18 ¥1,004
-51.29%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MX$31.54
$2.82 ¥458
-35.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.81
$3.91 ¥635
-48.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.00 MX$34.74
$6.14 ¥998
-67.43%
Potato (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.30
$3.23 ¥525
-35.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.27 MX$39.56
$2.68 ¥435
-15.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.46 MX$25.36
$1.33 ¥216
9.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 MX$18.74
$1.06 ¥172
1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35 MX$75.7
$3.50 ¥569
24.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.99 MX$296
$9.04 ¥1,470
87.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73 MX$30.18
$1.90 ¥308
-8.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 MX$62.3
$2.37 ¥385
51.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$1.59 ¥259
-75.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.69 MX$325
$54.9 ¥8,918
-65.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.33 MX$23.08
$3.38 ¥549
-60.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.28 MX$4.87
$2.93 ¥476
-90.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.25 MX$91.5
$17.59 ¥2,858
-70.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 MX$23.27
$1.23 ¥200
8.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4K MX$338.0K
$23.4K ¥3.8M
-17.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8K MX$415.0K
$16.7K ¥2.7M
43.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$40.69 MX$709
$145 ¥23.6K
-71.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87 MX$468
$27.29 ¥4,434
-1.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51 MX$531
$33.55 ¥5,451
-9.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.8 MX$919
$56.1 ¥9,118
-5.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65 MX$464
$13.74 ¥2,233
93.96%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51 MX$113
$12.47 ¥2,026
-47.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$428 MX$7,454
$286 ¥46.5K
49.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$182.8K
$11.4K ¥1.9M
-8.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 MX$997
$41.12 ¥6,681
39.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50 MX$792
$29.44 ¥4,783
54.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 MX$1,812
$55.7 ¥9,054
86.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,878
$91.2 ¥14.8K
18.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 MX$17.5K
$462 ¥75.1K
116.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 MX$10.8K
$325 ¥52.8K
91.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,109 MX$36.7K
$877 ¥142.5K
140.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,218 MX$21.2K
$669 ¥108.7K
82.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,885 MX$67.6K
$3,876 ¥629.7K
0.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,033 MX$35.4K
$2,385 ¥387.5K
-14.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kamakura
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,038 MX$18.1K
$1,727 ¥280.6K
-39.91%
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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Kamakura: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $462 in Kamakura. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kamakura pays 66% 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 $292 vs $348, 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, salaries run 66% 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: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $462 in Kamakura. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $286 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?
Shoppers in Mexico City pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Kamakura?
At $1,293 in Kamakura versus $1,456 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.

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