Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Takamatsu

For one person, living is cheaper in Takamatsu: $1,191 a month against $1,548 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $4,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,548
/mo nomad
Takamatsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,191
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,548 in Mexico City versus $1,191 in Takamatsu.

  • Mexico City $1,548
  • Takamatsu $1,191

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,436 in Mexico City versus $1,881 in Takamatsu.

  • Mexico City $2,436
  • Takamatsu $1,881

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,323 in Mexico City versus $2,571 in Takamatsu.

  • Mexico City $3,323
  • Takamatsu $2,571

Living in Mexico City is roughly 30% more expensive than in Takamatsu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 14% above, Takamatsu is 12% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02 MX$204
$6.20 ¥980
77.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.68 MX$900
$31.99 ¥5,054
52.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$201
$5.12 ¥809
112.89%
Cappuccino
$3.68 MX$68.1
$3.13 ¥495
17.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 MX$30.18
$1.19 ¥189
36.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 MX$23.07
$0.80 ¥126
56.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.25 MX$60.1
$2.60 ¥410
25.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.53 MX$102
$3.22 ¥508
71.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 MX$31.50
$1.50 ¥238
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$1.60 ¥252
88.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.53
$1.76 ¥278
9.09%
Eggs
$2.73 MX$50.5
$2.29 ¥361
19.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.77 MX$218
$10.37 ¥1,639
13.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.53 MX$176
$6.60 ¥1,043
44.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.41 MX$266
$16.83 ¥2,659
-14.38%
Apples (1kg)
$3.02 MX$55.8
$3.69 ¥583
-18.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.89 MX$35.01
$2.28 ¥360
-17.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.99 MX$36.70
$2.90 ¥458
-31.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$40.38
$4.24 ¥671
-48.35%
Potato (1kg)
$1.92 MX$35.43
$2.48 ¥391
-22.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.87 MX$34.49
$2.46 ¥389
-23.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.44 MX$26.62
$1.27 ¥201
13.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.39
$0.79 ¥124
60.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.22 MX$96.4
$3.67 ¥580
42.23%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.17 MX$299
$6.63 ¥1,048
143.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 MX$35.03
$1.88 ¥298
1.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22 MX$78.0
$2.11 ¥333
100.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$6.30
$1.46 ¥231
-76.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.65 MX$363
$53.3 ¥8,414
-63.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.00 MX$36.90
$3.18 ¥503
-37.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.52 MX$9.67
$2.79 ¥442
-81.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.34 MX$98.7
$18.60 ¥2,938
-71.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MX$28.13
$1.06 ¥168
43.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.1K MX$408.0K
$21.5K ¥3.4M
2.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.5K MX$452.9K
$15.1K ¥2.4M
62.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 MX$1,129
$137 ¥21.6K
-55.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.58 MX$528
$23.78 ¥3,757
20.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.47 MX$637
$30.79 ¥4,865
11.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.4 MX$1,042
$51.7 ¥8,161
9.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.88 MX$460
$3.11 ¥491
700.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.66 MX$123
$11.79 ¥1,862
-43.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$427 MX$7,891
$521 ¥82.3K
-17.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.6K MX$215.0K
$12.7K ¥2.0M
-8.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.8 MX$1,253
$48.96 ¥7,736
38.48%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.0 MX$960
$31.24 ¥4,936
66.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 MX$1,959
$60.1 ¥9,499
76.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$113 MX$2,080
$90.5 ¥14.3K
24.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,025 MX$18.9K
$529 ¥83.6K
93.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$654 MX$12.1K
$334 ¥52.8K
95.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,308 MX$42.7K
$1,089 ¥172.0K
112.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,242 MX$22.9K
$735 ¥116.1K
69.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,613 MX$66.8K
$4,144 ¥654.7K
-12.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,936 MX$35.8K
$1,783 ¥281.6K
8.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Takamatsu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$964 MX$17.8K
$1,761 ¥278.1K
-45.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
2.21
411.31%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 20, 2026

Last update for Takamatsu: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$654
Takamatsu
$334 48.9% $320
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$318
Takamatsu
$280 11.8% $38
Eating Out
Mexico City
$204
Takamatsu
$130 36.3% $74
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$152
Takamatsu
$104 31.8% $48
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$124
Takamatsu
$191 54.1% $67
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$70
Takamatsu
$75 7.9% $5.5
Getting Around
Mexico City
$26
Takamatsu
$76 198% $51

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,025 in Mexico City and $529 in Takamatsu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Takamatsu pays 83% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Mexico City vs $32.00 in Takamatsu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $280 per month, with Takamatsu cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇯🇵 Takamatsu
🕒 Local time
21:53 9:53 PM
12:53 12:53 PM
15 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
426,514
💱 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 Takamatsu 11,810 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Takamatsu

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 Takamatsu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Takamatsu?
Mexico City and Takamatsu differ by about 30% in total monthly costs ($1,548 vs $1,191 including rent). Takamatsu 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 83% lower in Takamatsu. 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 Takamatsu?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,025 in Mexico City versus $529 in Takamatsu. 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 Takamatsu?
A monthly transit pass in Takamatsu runs roughly 171% 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 Takamatsu?
Childcare runs $427 in Mexico City versus $521 in Takamatsu. 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 $1,191 in Takamatsu versus $1,548 in Mexico City, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Takamatsu but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Takamatsu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Takamatsu?
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 Takamatsu safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Takamatsu 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 Takamatsu?
Expats usually find Takamatsu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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