😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $1,187 in Matsudo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $1,947 in Matsudo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $2,707 in Matsudo.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 40% more expensive than in Matsudo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 21% above, Matsudo is 13% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$6.40¥1,000
86.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$38.62¥6,031
33.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$5.14¥803
121.98%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$3.62¥566
10.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$1.09¥170
52.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$0.81¥127
64.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$2.65¥413
30.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$3.27¥511
80.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$1.48¥231
27.03%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$1.69¥265
92.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$3.67¥573
-41.14%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$2.12¥331
36.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$11.01¥1,720
16.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$6.39¥998
57.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
$15.00¥2,343
5.73%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$5.15¥804
-36.12%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$2.43¥380
-17.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$2.88¥449
-23.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$4.26¥665
-44.60%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$2.62¥410
-21.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$2.66¥415
-28.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$1.26¥197
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
$0.82¥128
70.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$3.84¥599
42.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$6.40¥1,000
175.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$1.81¥282
13.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$2.09¥327
123.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$1.56¥244
-78.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$58.8¥9,186
-64.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$3.30¥515
-36.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
$2.66¥415
-78.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
$19.38¥3,026
-70.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$1.09¥170
47.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
$21.7K¥3.4M
5.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
$15.5K¥2.4M
72.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
$134¥20.9K
-51.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$22.46¥3,508
33.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$31.04¥4,847
19.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$47.29¥7,386
26.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$13.18¥2,058
-46.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$639¥99.8K
-27.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
$15.2K¥2.4M
-12.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$54.5¥8,513
39.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
$32.57¥5,087
71.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$63.2¥9,863
77.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$72.1¥11.3K
67.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$456¥71.2K
141.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$318¥49.7K
126.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$906¥141.5K
179.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$751¥117.3K
72.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
$4,048¥632.1K
-1.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
$1,866¥291.4K
11.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Matsudo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
1.94
482.47%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Matsudo: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $456 in Matsudo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $39.00 in Matsudo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $292 per month, with Matsudo cheaper across the board.
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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,489 in Mexico City and $1,781 in Matsudo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Matsudo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $456 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 183% 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 $465 in Mexico City versus $639 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 living in Mexico City or in Matsudo?
At $1,187 in Matsudo versus $1,660 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 40% 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