😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $1,265 in Obihiro.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $1,978 in Obihiro.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $2,692 in Obihiro.
😐Living in Mexico City is roughly 16% more expensive than Obihiro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 10% above, Obihiro is 6% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$230
$7.76¥1,244
69.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$941
$35.11¥5,628
53.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$165
$5.67¥910
66.14%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$62.0
$3.20¥513
10.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.25
$1.06¥171
52.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.46
$0.80¥128
38.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.5
$2.66¥426
17.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$3.05¥489
51.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.71
$1.51¥241
12.58%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.47
$1.45¥232
87.59%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.39
$3.78¥606
-49.47%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.28
$2.27¥364
11.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$175
$12.37¥1,982
-18.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$141
$6.39¥1,025
26.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$203
$15.41¥2,470
-24.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.8
$5.38¥863
-44.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$2.60¥417
-30.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.15
$4.04¥647
-50.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.53
$5.73¥918
-64.57%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$37.10
$3.02¥484
-29.80%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.63
$2.59¥415
-12.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.45
$1.60¥257
-12.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.74
$0.84¥134
34.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.6
$4.27¥684
-
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$272
$7.57¥1,213
105.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$1.83¥293
-3.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.8
$2.25¥361
60.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.69
$1.66¥267
-77.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$335
$55.1¥8,826
-65.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.02
$3.43¥549
-59.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$2.90¥465
-90.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$95.1
$20.43¥3,275
-73.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$1.23¥197
5.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$326.3K
$23.5K¥3.8M
-20.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$403.9K
$17.0K¥2.7M
36.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$714
$165¥26.5K
-75.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$468
$27.30¥4,376
-1.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$523
$44.12¥7,073
-32.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$908
$56.9¥9,116
-8.53%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$469
$13.84¥2,219
93.93%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$110
$12.55¥2,012
-49.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,616
$285¥45.7K
53.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$181.9K
$13.4K¥2.1M
-22.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$989
$28.15¥4,513
101.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$775
$29.76¥4,770
49.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,797
$59.3¥9,505
73.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,843
$93.3¥14.9K
13.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.8K
$458¥73.5K
122.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$11.0K
$311¥49.9K
102.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.3K
$852¥136.5K
150.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.7K
$653¥104.7K
90.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
$4,717¥756.1K
-17.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$36.0K
$2,444¥391.7K
-15.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Obihiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.5K
-
-
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Obihiro: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $458 in Obihiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $35.00 in Obihiro. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $316, 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 Obihiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Obihiro?
Mexico City and Obihiro differ by about 16% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $1,265 including rent). Obihiro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Mexico City compared to Obihiro?
You'd need roughly $2,201 in Mexico City and $1,897 in Obihiro 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and Obihiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $458 in Obihiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Obihiro?
A monthly transit pass in Obihiro runs roughly 187% less than in Mexico City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Obihiro?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $285 in Obihiro. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,265 in Obihiro versus $1,467 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Obihiro but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Obihiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Obihiro?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Obihiro safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Obihiro are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Obihiro?
Expats usually find Obihiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 16% 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