😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $1,140 in Oita.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $1,739 in Oita.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $2,339 in Oita.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 28% more expensive than in Oita, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Oita is 15% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$5.70¥926
129.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$41.49¥6,741
29.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$5.99¥973
61.60%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$2.02¥328
85.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$1.09¥177
48.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.72¥116
61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$3.46¥562
-6.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
$3.09¥502
53.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$1.27¥206
29.92%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$1.33¥216
106.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$4.12¥669
-54.61%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$2.57¥418
-2.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$5.73¥931
78.01%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$6.09¥990
35.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$11.50¥1,869
2.78%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$5.36¥871
-43.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$4.95¥803
-63.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$5.30¥861
-62.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$2.27¥368
-11.89%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$1.41¥229
47.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$1.41¥229
60.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$1.23¥201
18.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.81¥131
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
$3.80¥617
14.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$6.12¥994
177.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
$2.05¥334
-15.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
$2.10¥341
70.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$1.28¥207
-69.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
$34.22¥5,559
-45.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
$3.37¥547
-60.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
$1.97¥319
-85.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
$19.35¥3,144
-72.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
$1.22¥197
9.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
$23.1K¥3.7M
-15.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
$14.5K¥2.4M
63.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$81.2¥13.2K
-49.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
$27.71¥4,502
-3.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$22.15¥3,598
37.74%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$55.8¥9,060
-5.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
$6.81¥1,107
291.34%
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
$10.21¥1,659
-36.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
$414¥67.2K
3.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
$13.4K¥2.2M
-21.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
$40.05¥6,506
42.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
$29.65¥4,818
53.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
$67.1¥10.9K
54.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
$93.2¥15.1K
15.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$470¥76.4K
113.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$373¥60.5K
67.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$763¥124.0K
176.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$562¥91.3K
116.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
$4,106¥667.1K
-5.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
$1,771¥287.8K
14.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Oita
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
$1,258¥204.5K
-17.53%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
1.5
656.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Oita: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $470 in Oita. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oita pays 21% 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 $41.00 in Oita for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $272 per month, with Oita 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 Oita: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Oita?
Mexico City and Oita differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,456 vs $1,140 including rent). Oita is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 21% lower in Oita. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Oita?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $470 in Oita. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Oita?
A monthly transit pass in Oita runs roughly 83% 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 Oita?
Childcare runs $428 in Mexico City versus $414 in Oita. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,140 in Oita versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Oita but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Oita the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Oita?
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 Oita safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Oita 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 Oita?
Expats usually find Oita gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% 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