😐A single person spends $1,467 per month in Mexico City vs $1,196 in Kanazawa, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,371 per month in Mexico City vs $1,871 in Kanazawa, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,274 per month in Mexico City vs $2,547 in Kanazawa, rent included.
😐Mexico City costs about 23% more than Kanazawa, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Mexico City sits 10% above the global median, while Kanazawa is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$5.69¥910
131.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$35.23¥5,634
52.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$4.82¥772
95.44%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$3.32¥532
6.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$1.09¥174
48.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.72¥115
54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.80¥447
11.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$4.40¥705
5.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.61¥257
5.59%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.50¥239
81.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$4.69¥749
-59.28%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$2.44¥390
4.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.62¥1,699
-5.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.33¥1,012
27.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$19.04¥3,045
-38.97%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$3.64¥582
-18.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$2.19¥351
-17.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$2.58¥412
-22.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$4.45¥711
-54.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$1.66¥265
27.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$1.24¥198
83.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.39¥222
0.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.89¥142
26.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$3.84¥614
11.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$9.13¥1,461
70.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$2.07¥331
-14.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$3.00¥480
20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$1.61¥258
-76.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$54.8¥8,767
-65.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$4.54¥725
-69.60%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$3.36¥537
-91.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$23.66¥3,785
-76.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.18¥188
10.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$23.5K¥3.8M
-20.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$17.0K¥2.7M
36.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$130¥20.8K
-68.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$27.51¥4,400
-2.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$30.22¥4,833
-0.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$48.01¥7,680
8.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$13.76¥2,201
95.06%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$12.65¥2,023
-50.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$70.4¥11.3K
519.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$10.4K¥1.7M
0.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$43.98¥7,034
28.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$29.19¥4,669
52.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$66.6¥10.7K
54.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$94.4¥15.1K
11.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$476¥76.1K
114.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$332¥53.1K
90.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$867¥138.6K
146.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$658¥105.2K
88.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$4,365¥698.2K
-10.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$2,655¥424.7K
-22.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Kanazawa
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,846¥295.2K
-39.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
1.81
526.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Kanazawa: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,022 in Mexico City versus $476 in Kanazawa. 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 66% higher in Kanazawa, 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 $35.00 in Kanazawa. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Mexico City vs $302 in Kanazawa – 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 Kanazawa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and Kanazawa compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City, $1,196 in Kanazawa – roughly 23% 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 Kanazawa?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,201 per month in Mexico City and $1,794 in Kanazawa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Kanazawa?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kanazawa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Mexico City or Kanazawa?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,467 in Mexico City and $1,196 in Kanazawa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Kanazawa?
Public transport costs about 186% less in Kanazawa. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kanazawa, where all-in costs run around $1,196, than in Mexico City at $1,467. In Kanazawa 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 Kanazawa?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,196 in Kanazawa to $1,467 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Kanazawa?
If budget matters most, go with Kanazawa. 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared