🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,185 in Nagasaki versus $1,472 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Nagasaki versus $2,359 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,625 in Nagasaki versus $3,245 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Nagasaki costs roughly 19% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Nagasaki is 11% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.61¥884
$13.14MX$227
-57.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.62¥3,250
$53.5MX$926
-61.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.72¥901
$9.33MX$161
-38.69%
Cappuccino
$3.10¥488
$3.70MX$64.0
-16.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09¥171
$1.60MX$27.76
-31.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80¥125
$1.12MX$19.34
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50¥393
$3.14MX$54.3
-20.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39¥377
$4.85MX$83.9
-50.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59¥250
$1.65MX$28.61
-3.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.28¥201
$2.71MX$46.96
-52.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.14¥652
$1.91MX$33.03
116.75%
Eggs
$2.28¥359
$2.59MX$44.81
-11.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20¥1,608
$9.81MX$170
3.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.54¥557
$8.43MX$146
-58.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$20.71¥3,263
$11.93MX$206
73.60%
Apples(1kg)
$3.06¥482
$2.95MX$51.1
3.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.35¥213
$1.74MX$30.10
-22.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.42¥224
$2.04MX$35.38
-30.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.92¥932
$2.06MX$35.64
187.38%
Potato(1kg)
$2.84¥447
$2.15MX$37.20
32.09%
Onion(1kg)
$3.17¥499
$2.26MX$39.02
40.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98¥154
$1.39MX$23.97
-29.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57¥89.5
$1.12MX$19.31
-49.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84¥605
$4.22MX$73.0
-9.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.25¥984
$17.51MX$303
-64.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99¥313
$1.71MX$29.58
16.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13¥336
$3.63MX$62.8
-41.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93¥146
$0.35MX$6.10
165.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$113¥17.8K
$19.32MX$334
484.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.10¥646
$1.38MX$23.80
197.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.91¥458
$0.28MX$4.77
939.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.65¥3,097
$5.28MX$91.3
272.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.15¥181
$1.36MX$23.50
-15.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K¥3.6M
$19.1KMX$330.5K
21.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4K¥3.2M
$23.6KMX$408.4K
-13.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215¥33.9K
$40.53MX$701
430.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.15¥4,278
$27.38MX$474
-0.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.72¥5,629
$30.38MX$526
17.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$55.6¥8,759
$52.2MX$903
6.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.80¥2,175
$26.48MX$458
-47.89%
Cinema Ticket
$14.13¥2,227
$6.19MX$107
128.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$259¥40.9K
$425MX$7,355
-39.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4K¥2.1M
$10.7KMX$185.7K
24.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.40¥6,839
$58.3MX$1,009
-25.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.96¥4,720
$44.57MX$771
-32.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6¥10.5K
$103MX$1,791
-35.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.1¥9,463
$109MX$1,881
-44.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$309¥48.7K
$1,014MX$17.5K
-69.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$208¥32.7K
$623MX$10.8K
-66.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$857¥135.1K
$2,119MX$36.7K
-59.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$659¥103.8K
$1,223MX$21.2K
-46.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,346¥684.8K
$3,792MX$65.6K
14.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,051¥323.2K
$2,110MX$36.5K
-2.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nagasaki
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,052MX$18.2K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.67
11.34
-85.27%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nagasaki: July 27, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Nagasaki and $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Nagasaki vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $293 per month, with Nagasaki 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
Nagasaki vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Nagasaki and in Mexico City?
Nagasaki and Mexico City differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,185 vs $1,472 including rent). Nagasaki is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Nagasaki compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $1,778 in Nagasaki and $2,208 in Mexico City 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 Nagasaki and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $309 in Nagasaki versus $1,014 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Nagasaki and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Nagasaki runs roughly 485% 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 Nagasaki and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $259 in Nagasaki versus $425 in Mexico City. 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 $1,185 in Nagasaki versus $1,472 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Nagasaki but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Nagasaki the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Nagasaki and Mexico City?
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 Nagasaki or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Nagasaki and Mexico City 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: Nagasaki or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Nagasaki gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.