Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Queretaro Cost of Living Comparison Between Saitama and Queretaro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $983 per month in Saitama vs $1,541 in Queretaro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,315 per month in Saitama vs $2,316 in Queretaro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,646 per month in Saitama vs $3,091 in Queretaro, rent included.

Saitama is about 36% cheaper than Queretaro, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saitama sits 28% below the global median, while Queretaro is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.61 ¥898

$11.81 MX$201

-52.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.87 ¥4,945

$66.5 MX$1,130

-53.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.75 ¥761

$9.71 MX$165

-51.08%

Cappuccino

$2.98 ¥478

$3.91 MX$66.4

-23.79%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ¥114

$1.85 MX$31.39

-61.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 ¥94.9

$1.16 MX$19.64

-49.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 ¥397

$3.90 MX$66.2

-36.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 ¥494

$5.93 MX$101

-48.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 ¥226

$1.99 MX$33.77

-29.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.72 ¥276

$2.87 MX$48.79

-40.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.77 ¥444

$2.16 MX$36.63

28.24%

Eggs

$1.97 ¥316

$2.89 MX$49.04

-31.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.85 ¥1,898

$9.27 MX$157

27.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.34 ¥855

$9.49 MX$161

-43.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.55 ¥2,332

$14.75 MX$251

-1.36%

Apples (1kg)

$5.55 ¥890

$3.70 MX$62.9

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.20 ¥353

$1.71 MX$29.01

28.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.77 ¥444

$2.34 MX$39.82

18.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.06 ¥651

$2.11 MX$35.81

92.42%

Potato (1kg)

$2.51 ¥402

$2.08 MX$35.29

20.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 ¥246

$1.95 MX$33.15

-21.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.26 ¥202

$1.58 MX$26.88

-20.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ¥116

$1.27 MX$21.57

-43.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.69 ¥591

$4.79 MX$81.4

-22.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.35 ¥1,018

$19.20 MX$326

-66.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.72 ¥275

$2.39 MX$40.69

-28.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 ¥319

$4.45 MX$75.7

-55.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$3.35 ¥536

$0.64 MX$10.87

423.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.02 MX$459

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.11 ¥499

$3.44 MX$58.5

-9.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 ¥394

$2.84 MX$48.30

-13.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$20.32 ¥3,256

$11.74 MX$200

73.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 ¥168

$1.61 MX$27.32

-34.78%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.6K ¥3.5M

$23.2K MX$394.3K

-7.07%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$14.5K ¥2.3M

$25.9K MX$440.8K

-44.24%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$131 ¥21.0K

$64.6 MX$1,098

102.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.94 ¥2,874

$29.23 MX$497

-38.62%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.96 ¥5,120

$26.98 MX$459

18.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 ¥9,911

$61.9 MX$1,051

0.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.33 MX$448

Cinema Ticket

$10.82 ¥1,733

$7.96 MX$135

35.93%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$633 ¥101.4K

$282 MX$4,799

124.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.4K ¥2.3M

$5,412 MX$92.0K

166.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.98 ¥5,604

$56.9 MX$966

-38.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$24.53 ¥3,930

$47.42 MX$806

-48.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.4 ¥8,875

$107 MX$1,813

-48.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.4 ¥9,840

$105 MX$1,788

-41.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$409 ¥65.5K

$927 MX$15.7K

-55.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 ¥36.1K

$606 MX$10.3K

-62.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,603 MX$27.2K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$887 MX$15.1K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,404 MX$40.8K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 MX$23.0K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,517 ¥243.0K

$946 MX$16.1K

60.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

2.06

11.99

-82.82%

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

Last update for Saitama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Queretaro: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $409 in Saitama versus $927 in Queretaro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 60% higher in Saitama, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Saitama versus $67.0 in Queretaro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $328 – making Saitama the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Saitama vs Queretaro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Queretaro costs about 57% more than Saitama, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,475 per month in Saitama and $2,312 in Queretaro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Saitama, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Saitama and $67.0 in Queretaro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% more in Queretaro, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $983, than in Queretaro at $1,541. In Saitama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Queretaro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Saitama costs $983 versus $1,541 in Queretaro. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Saitama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Queretaro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.