😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,163 in Matsudo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,837 in Matsudo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,511 in Matsudo.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 26% more expensive than Matsudo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Matsudo is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$6.96¥1,113
89.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$34.74¥5,556
55.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$5.35¥856
76.07%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$3.19¥511
11.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$1.13¥181
43.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$0.76¥121
46.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$2.03¥325
53.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$2.10¥336
120.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$1.50¥239
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$1.66¥265
63.86%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$4.85¥776
-60.62%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$1.55¥248
63.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$9.92¥1,586
1.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$6.21¥993
30.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$15.23¥2,436
-23.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$5.99¥958
-50.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$3.09¥493
-41.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$4.14¥662
-51.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$4.62¥738
-56.06%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$3.32¥531
-36.14%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$3.56¥569
-36.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$1.33¥213
5.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$0.87¥139
29.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$4.08¥653
4.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$9.64¥1,541
61.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$1.84¥295
-4.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$2.11¥338
70.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$1.60¥256
-76.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$54.5¥8,722
-64.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$3.41¥545
-59.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$2.89¥463
-90.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$22.09¥3,533
-75.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$1.15¥183
13.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$23.1K¥3.7M
-19.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$18.2K¥2.9M
27.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$84.5¥13.5K
-51.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$27.96¥4,472
-4.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$17.25¥2,759
73.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$56.7¥9,068
-8.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$13.60¥2,176
97.35%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$11.40¥1,823
-44.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$283¥45.3K
53.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$14.0K¥2.2M
-25.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$40.94¥6,548
38.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$29.67¥4,746
49.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$60.3¥9,639
70.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$95.8¥15.3K
10.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$476¥76.2K
114.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$332¥53.1K
90.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$878¥140.5K
143.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$663¥106.1K
87.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
$4,662¥745.6K
-16.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
$2,596¥415.2K
-20.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$1,996¥319.3K
-44.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
2.05
453.17%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Matsudo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $476 in Matsudo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Matsudo pays 79% 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 Matsudo. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $317, 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 Matsudo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Matsudo cheaper than Mexico City?
Matsudo is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Matsudo?
On paper, Matsudo earns 79% 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 Matsudo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $476 in Matsudo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Matsudo runs roughly 184% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $283 in Matsudo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Matsudo?
At $1,163 in Matsudo versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Matsudo but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Matsudo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Matsudo more family-friendly?
For families, Matsudo 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 Matsudo?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Matsudo 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 Matsudo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% 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