Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Mexico City and Yokohama

For one person, living is cheaper in Yokohama: $1,340 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Mexico City, Mexico
Yokohama, Japan
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Yokohama
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,340
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,608 in Mexico City versus $1,340 in Yokohama.

  • Mexico City $1,608
  • Yokohama $1,340

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,549 in Mexico City versus $2,054 in Yokohama.

  • Mexico City $2,549
  • Yokohama $2,054

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,490 in Mexico City versus $2,768 in Yokohama.

  • Mexico City $3,490
  • Yokohama $2,768

Living in Mexico City is roughly 20% more expensive than in Yokohama, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 18% above, Yokohama is 2% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.62 MX$198
$6.45 ¥1,019
64.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.35 MX$901
$40.72 ¥6,429
18.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.35 MX$193
$5.19 ¥820
99.42%
Cappuccino
$3.69 MX$68.8
$3.41 ¥538
8.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 MX$31.07
$1.06 ¥167
57.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.59
$0.74 ¥116
71.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.19 MX$59.5
$2.60 ¥410
22.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.31 MX$98.9
$3.09 ¥489
71.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 MX$32.15
$1.46 ¥231
17.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.04 MX$56.7
$1.75 ¥277
73.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$3.59 ¥567
-45.96%
Eggs
$2.89 MX$53.8
$2.03 ¥320
42.36%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.97 MX$205
$10.26 ¥1,620
6.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.25 MX$172
$6.14 ¥970
50.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.13 MX$282
$14.66 ¥2,314
3.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.05 MX$56.8
$5.54 ¥875
-44.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.94 MX$36.19
$2.76 ¥436
-29.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.03 MX$37.75
$2.96 ¥467
-31.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.31 MX$43.15
$4.10 ¥647
-43.66%
Potato (1kg)
$2.04 MX$37.94
$2.52 ¥398
-19.05%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 MX$33.55
$2.58 ¥407
-30.23%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.48 MX$27.58
$1.30 ¥205
13.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 MX$23.63
$0.77 ¥121
64.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.30 MX$98.9
$3.90 ¥616
35.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.10 MX$300
$6.30 ¥995
155.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98 MX$36.97
$1.82 ¥288
8.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MX$79.3
$2.09 ¥331
103.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.31 MX$5.69
$1.37 ¥217
-77.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$19.73 MX$368
$62.4 ¥9,856
-68.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.84 MX$34.25
$3.11 ¥491
-40.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.53 MX$9.94
$2.66 ¥420
-80.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.30 MX$98.7
$20.61 ¥3,254
-74.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.51 MX$28.16
$1.07 ¥169
41.12%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8K MX$405.5K
$21.6K ¥3.4M
0.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.0K MX$447.1K
$16.1K ¥2.5M
48.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.0 MX$1,174
$130 ¥20.6K
-51.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.39 MX$511
$24.74 ¥3,906
10.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.67 MX$665
$32.65 ¥5,155
9.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$58.9 MX$1,099
$48.93 ¥7,725
20.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.64 MX$441
$11.78 ¥1,860
100.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MX$119
$13.09 ¥2,067
-51.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$432 MX$8,045
$805 ¥127.1K
-46.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K MX$212.9K
$15.0K ¥2.4M
-23.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.2 MX$1,272
$61.7 ¥9,733
10.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 MX$990
$37.72 ¥5,956
40.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MX$2,009
$62.6 ¥9,887
72.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$117 MX$2,186
$102 ¥16.1K
15.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,113 MX$20.8K
$1,097 ¥173.1K
1.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$710 MX$13.2K
$450 ¥71.0K
58.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,588 MX$48.2K
$1,796 ¥283.6K
44.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,406 MX$26.2K
$805 ¥127.0K
74.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,631 MX$67.7K
$5,778 ¥912.2K
-37.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,135 MX$39.8K
$4,066 ¥641.9K
-47.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Yokohama
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$946 MX$17.6K
$2,669 ¥421.4K
-64.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.35
2.64
329.92%

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

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Last update for Yokohama: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
$710
Yokohama
$450 36.7% $261
Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
$320
Yokohama
$290 9.3% $30
Eating Out
Mexico City
$199
Yokohama
$134 32.3% $64
Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
$156
Yokohama
$119 23.8% $37
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
$126
Yokohama
$188 48.9% $62
Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
$72
Yokohama
$75 4.7% $3.4
Getting Around
Mexico City
$25
Yokohama
$84 231% $59

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,113 in Mexico City and $1,097 in Yokohama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yokohama pays about 2.8 times more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $48 in Mexico City vs $41 in Yokohama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $320 vs $290 per month, with Yokohama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇯🇵 Yokohama
🕒 Local time
14:50 2:50 PM
05:50 5:50 AM
15 h ahead of Mexico City
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
9,209,944 Capital
3,777,491
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

JPY, USD, EUR to MXN – Mexican Peso Converter

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.69 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Mexico City Yokohama 11,330 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Mexico City
  • Yokohama

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 Yokohama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Yokohama?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,608 in Mexico City and $1,340 in Yokohama, so Yokohama is about 17% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Mexico City. 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 Yokohama?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,113 in Mexico City versus $1,097 in Yokohama. 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 Yokohama?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 68% less than in Yokohama. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Yokohama?
Childcare runs $432 in Mexico City versus $805 in Yokohama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $2,000 go in Mexico City compared to Yokohama?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Yokohama gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Yokohama?
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.

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