Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Matsuyama

For one person, living is cheaper in Matsuyama: $1,277 a month against $1,548 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $3,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Matsuyama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,277
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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 Matsuyama actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,548 per month in Mexico City vs $1,277 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Matsuyama $1,277

A couple spends around $2,436 per month in Mexico City vs $2,017 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Matsuyama $2,017

A family of three spends $3,323 per month in Mexico City vs $2,758 in Matsuyama, rent included.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Matsuyama $2,758

Mexico City costs about 21% more than Matsuyama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Mexico City sits 14% above the global median, while Matsuyama is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$6.38 ¥1,008
72.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$30.99 ¥4,896
57.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$4.71 ¥744
131.42%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$2.38 ¥376
54.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$1.19 ¥188
36.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$0.58 ¥91.7
115.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$2.09 ¥330
55.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$2.29 ¥361
141.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$1.50 ¥238
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.33 ¥210
127.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$5.40 ¥853
-64.44%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$2.08 ¥329
31.25%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$12.49 ¥1,974
-5.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$9.48 ¥1,498
0.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$32.49 ¥5,134
-55.65%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$3.67 ¥579
-17.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$2.32 ¥367
-18.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$6.34 ¥1,001
-68.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$4.24 ¥670
-48.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$3.67 ¥580
-47.68%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$3.45 ¥545
-45.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$1.24 ¥196
16.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$0.97 ¥154
30.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$3.51 ¥555
48.72%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$7.99 ¥1,262
102.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.97 ¥312
-3.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$1.44 ¥227
193.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$1.44 ¥228
-76.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$52.7 ¥8,327
-62.72%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$3.23 ¥510
-38.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$3.08 ¥486
-83.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$26.40 ¥4,170
-79.77%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.10 ¥173
38.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$20.0K ¥3.2M
10.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$16.7K ¥2.6M
46.75%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$144 ¥22.8K
-57.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$23.66 ¥3,738
20.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$43.16 ¥6,819
-20.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$53.0 ¥8,379
6.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$12.54 ¥1,982
-46.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$319 ¥50.3K
34.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$6,069 ¥958.9K
91.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$49.43 ¥7,809
37.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$25.19 ¥3,980
106.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$46.18 ¥7,297
129.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$66.3 ¥10.5K
69.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$526 ¥83.2K
94.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$328 ¥51.8K
99.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$1,122 ¥177.3K
105.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$724 ¥114.4K
71.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$4,302 ¥679.6K
-16.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$1,726 ¥272.6K
12.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Matsuyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
2.28
395.61%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Matsuyama: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Matsuyama
$328 49.9% $326
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Matsuyama
$383 20.3% $65
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Matsuyama
$116 43.2% $88
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Matsuyama
$84 44.7% $68
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Matsuyama
$211 70.1% $87
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Matsuyama
$78 12.1% $8.4
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Matsuyama
$77 201% $51

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,025 in Mexico City versus $526 in Matsuyama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Mexico City versus $31.00 in Matsuyama. Groceries tell a different story – $318 in Mexico City vs $383 in Matsuyama – so Mexico City wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇯🇵 Matsuyama
🕒 Local time
21:53 9:53 PM
12:53 12:53 PM
15 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
511,192
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 21, 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 21, 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 Matsuyama 11,940 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Matsuyama

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 Matsuyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mexico City and in Matsuyama compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City, $1,277 in Matsuyama – roughly 21% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Matsuyama?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,322 per month in Mexico City and $1,915 in Matsuyama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mexico City and Matsuyama?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Matsuyama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Matsuyama?
Public transport costs about 168% less in Matsuyama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Matsuyama?
Kindergarten costs $427 per month in Mexico City and $319 in Matsuyama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Matsuyama, where all-in costs run around $1,277, than in Mexico City at $1,548. In Matsuyama 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 Matsuyama?
It depends on your priorities. Mexico City has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,277 in Matsuyama to $1,548 in Mexico City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Mexico City or Matsuyama safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Mexico City and Matsuyama?
If budget matters most, go with Matsuyama. 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.

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