🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,147 in Oita versus $1,467 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,739 in Oita versus $2,371 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,330 in Oita versus $3,274 in Mexico City.
🙂Living in Oita costs roughly 22% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Oita is 14% below, Mexico City is 10% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.43¥868
$13.18MX$228
-58.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.03¥6,563
$53.9MX$934
-23.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.13¥980
$9.42MX$163
-34.93%
Cappuccino
$2.07¥330
$3.55MX$61.5
-41.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08¥173
$1.62MX$28.03
-33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68¥108
$1.11MX$19.31
-38.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40¥544
$3.12MX$54.1
8.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20¥512
$4.63MX$80.2
-30.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.31¥210
$1.70MX$29.48
-22.94%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34¥215
$2.72MX$47.10
-50.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.08¥653
$1.91MX$33.13
113.61%
Eggs
$2.51¥401
$2.54MX$43.94
-1.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.91¥945
$10.03MX$174
-41.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11¥978
$8.09MX$140
-24.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37¥1,819
$11.62MX$201
-2.15%
Apples(1kg)
$5.38¥860
$2.97MX$51.4
81.14%
Banana(1kg)
$5.00¥800
$1.81MX$31.30
176.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.19¥830
$2.01MX$34.88
158.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.28¥365
$2.03MX$35.26
12.32%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37¥219
$2.12MX$36.82
-35.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42¥228
$2.27MX$39.32
-37.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18¥189
$1.40MX$24.26
-15.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76¥121
$1.13MX$19.59
-32.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96¥634
$4.27MX$74.0
-7.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.35¥1,016
$15.56MX$270
-59.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.00¥320
$1.76MX$30.44
13.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12¥339
$3.60MX$62.3
-41.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.27¥204
$0.38MX$6.64
234.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.59¥5,533
$19.18MX$332
80.34%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.55¥568
$1.38MX$23.84
157.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.96¥314
$0.28MX$4.79
600.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.67¥3,147
$5.45MX$94.4
260.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.22¥195
$1.30MX$22.60
-6.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6K¥3.8M
$18.7KMX$323.8K
26.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.6K¥2.3M
$23.1KMX$400.8K
-36.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2¥13.3K
$40.86MX$708
103.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.80¥4,287
$26.81MX$465
-0.04%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.56¥3,608
$29.96MX$519
-24.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.7¥9,232
$52.0MX$901
10.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.88¥1,100
$26.84MX$465
-74.37%
Cinema Ticket
$10.34¥1,654
$6.30MX$109
64.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$424¥67.9K
$436MX$7,558
-2.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.5K¥2.2M
$10.4KMX$180.5K
29.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.51¥6,320
$56.7MX$982
-30.26%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.90¥4,622
$44.38MX$769
-34.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2¥10.7K
$103MX$1,784
-34.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.0¥15.0K
$106MX$1,829
-10.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$455¥72.8K
$1,022MX$17.7K
-55.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$373¥59.6K
$631MX$10.9K
-40.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765¥122.3K
$2,136MX$37.0K
-64.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549¥87.8K
$1,243MX$21.5K
-55.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,984¥637.2K
$3,903MX$67.6K
2.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,048¥327.6K
$2,064MX$35.8K
-0.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oita
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,272¥203.5K
$1,115MX$19.3K
14.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.5
11.34
-86.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Oita: June 1, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $455 in Oita and $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Oita pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $41.00 in Oita vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $272 vs $288 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
Oita vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Oita and Mexico City?
Oita and Mexico City differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($1,147 vs $1,467 including rent). Oita is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Oita or Mexico City?
Oita pays 14% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Oita and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $455 in Oita versus $1,022 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Oita and Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Oita runs roughly 80% 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 Oita and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $424 in Oita versus $436 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 $1,000 per month?
At $1,147 in Oita versus $1,467 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 Oita 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 Oita or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Oita 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: Oita or Mexico City?
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.