Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Toyama Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Toyama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $1,147 in Toyama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $1,850 in Toyama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $2,553 in Toyama.

Living in Mexico City is roughly 44% more expensive than in Toyama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 20% above, Toyama is 17% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11 MX$205
$3.85 ¥602
214.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2 MX$883
$43.75 ¥6,835
19.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.90 MX$184
$5.06 ¥790
115.42%
Cappuccino
$4.05 MX$68.5
$3.44 ¥537
17.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72 MX$28.99
$1.08 ¥169
59.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 MX$23.28
$0.80 ¥124
72.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$58.6
$2.44 ¥381
42.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81 MX$98.2
$3.18 ¥497
82.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 MX$31.32
$1.09 ¥170
69.72%
White Bread (500g)
$3.22 MX$54.5
$0.78 ¥122
312.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 MX$35.24
$3.59 ¥561
-41.78%
Eggs
$2.91 MX$49.16
$1.98 ¥309
46.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.49 MX$211
$11.72 ¥1,831
6.57%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.11 MX$171
$6.14 ¥959
64.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.89 MX$269
$14.20 ¥2,219
11.90%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 MX$56.0
$5.69 ¥889
-41.83%
Banana (1kg)
$2.13 MX$35.94
$2.80 ¥437
-23.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 MX$37.02
$2.89 ¥452
-24.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.45 MX$41.36
$4.05 ¥632
-39.51%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 MX$36.99
$2.61 ¥408
-16.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.19
$2.60 ¥406
-26.92%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$1.23 ¥193
31.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35 MX$22.81
$0.69 ¥107
95.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43 MX$91.7
$3.78 ¥591
43.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.59 MX$297
$6.22 ¥972
182.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07 MX$34.95
$1.71 ¥267
21.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75 MX$80.2
$1.97 ¥308
141.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.74
$1.50 ¥234
-77.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.58 MX$365
$51.7 ¥8,081
-58.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.04 MX$34.48
$3.05 ¥476
-33.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MX$9.77
$2.56 ¥401
-77.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.97 MX$101
$20.19 ¥3,154
-70.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$27.30
$1.09 ¥171
48.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$385.5K
$21.0K ¥3.3M
8.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7K MX$450.6K
$18.1K ¥2.8M
47.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$65.2 MX$1,102
$132 ¥20.6K
-50.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87 MX$505
$24.27 ¥3,791
23.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55 MX$618
$31.86 ¥4,976
14.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$61.0 MX$1,031
$50.7 ¥7,924
20.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70 MX$451
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.85 MX$116
$11.38 ¥1,777
-39.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$453 MX$7,662
$615 ¥96.1K
-26.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K MX$226.0K
$14.5K ¥2.3M
-7.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0 MX$1,267
$60.7 ¥9,489
23.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3 MX$934
$32.63 ¥5,097
69.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$114 MX$1,920
$60.7 ¥9,484
87.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 MX$2,073
$101 ¥15.8K
21.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,134 MX$19.2K
$237 ¥37.1K
377.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$712 MX$12.0K
$349 ¥54.5K
104.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,571 MX$43.4K
$1,083 ¥169.1K
137.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,311 MX$22.2K
$683 ¥106.6K
92.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,993 MX$67.5K
$4,012 ¥626.8K
-0.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,095 MX$35.4K
$1,868 ¥291.8K
12.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Toyama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,047 MX$17.7K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.3
2.12
433.02%

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

Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026

Last update for Toyama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $237 in Toyama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $44.00 in Toyama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $278 per month, with Toyama 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 Toyama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Toyama?
Mexico City and Toyama differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,646 vs $1,147 including rent). Toyama 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 Toyama?
You'd need roughly $2,469 in Mexico City and $1,720 in Toyama 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 in Toyama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $237 in Toyama. 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 Toyama?
A monthly transit pass in Toyama runs roughly 140% 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 Toyama?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $615 in Toyama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,147 in Toyama versus $1,646 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Toyama but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Toyama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Toyama?
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 Toyama safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Toyama 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 Toyama?
Expats usually find Toyama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% 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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