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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,127 per month in Saitama vs $1,294 in Queretaro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,830 per month in Saitama vs $1,993 in Queretaro, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Saitama vs $2,692 in Queretaro, rent included.

Saitama is about 13% cheaper than Queretaro, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Saitama and Queretaro are more affordable than the global median – Saitama 16% lower, Queretaro 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.87 ¥954

$9.43 MX$165

-37.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 ¥5,584

$45.49 MX$795

-24.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.98 ¥809

$7.73 MX$135

-35.58%

Cappuccino

$3.08 ¥500

$3.53 MX$61.7

-12.75%

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

$0.71 ¥115

$1.31 MX$22.95

-45.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.74 ¥121

$0.96 MX$16.78

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 ¥329

$2.40 MX$41.91

-15.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 ¥494

$4.28 MX$74.8

-28.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 ¥245

$1.61 MX$28.09

-6.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.66 ¥270

$2.61 MX$45.55

-36.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.94 ¥477

$1.93 MX$33.76

52.33%

Eggs

$2.23 ¥362

$2.32 MX$40.64

-3.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.20 ¥1,657

$8.44 MX$148

20.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 ¥959

$9.42 MX$165

-37.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.52 ¥2,520

$13.11 MX$229

18.38%

Apples (1kg)

$5.95 ¥967

$3.58 MX$62.6

66.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 ¥218

$1.46 MX$25.48

-8.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.90 ¥634

$1.90 MX$33.28

105.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.91 ¥959

$1.71 MX$29.88

245.61%

Potato (1kg)

$3.24 ¥526

$1.73 MX$30.23

87.28%

Onion (1kg)

$1.76 ¥285

$1.84 MX$32.11

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 ¥218

$1.30 MX$22.77

3.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 ¥132

$1.14 MX$19.94

-28.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.06 ¥660

$4.20 MX$73.4

-3.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.17 ¥1,327

$17.06 MX$298

-52.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 ¥287

$1.94 MX$33.93

-8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.03 ¥329

$3.26 MX$57.0

-37.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.68 ¥273

$0.55 MX$9.67

205.45%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.8 ¥8,898

$23.65 MX$414

131.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.44 ¥558

$3.26 MX$56.9

5.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.87 ¥465

$1.24 MX$21.60

131.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$21.85 ¥3,548

$9.30 MX$163

134.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.18 ¥191

$1.26 MX$21.98

-6.35%

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

$23.5K ¥3.8M

$19.7K MX$344.8K

19.14%

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

$18.2K ¥3.0M

$20.5K MX$358.8K

-11.28%

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

$141 ¥22.9K

$62.5 MX$1,093

125.56%

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

$19.47 ¥3,161

$23.75 MX$415

-18.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.15 ¥5,545

$28.25 MX$494

20.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.2 ¥11.2K

$50.1 MX$875

38.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.76 ¥2,234

$26.33 MX$460

-47.74%

Cinema Ticket

$11.91 ¥1,934

$6.12 MX$107

94.61%

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

$283 ¥46.0K

$314 MX$5,483

-9.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.8K ¥2.2M

$4,841 MX$84.7K

184.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.81 ¥6,139

$50.8 MX$889

-25.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.07 ¥4,557

$41.93 MX$733

-33.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.9 ¥9,717

$98.4 MX$1,720

-39.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.7 ¥11.1K

$98.4 MX$1,720

-30.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$428 ¥69.5K

$654 MX$11.4K

-34.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 ¥42.0K

$491 MX$8,578

-47.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$877 ¥142.4K

$1,200 MX$21.0K

-26.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 ¥106.4K

$810 MX$14.2K

-19.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,887 ¥793.4K

$2,327 MX$40.7K

110.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,152 ¥349.4K

$1,318 MX$23.0K

63.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,474 ¥239.4K

$914 MX$16.0K

61.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

1.86

11.55

-83.90%

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

Last update for Saitama: July 12, 2026

Last update for Queretaro: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $428 in Saitama versus $654 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 61% 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 $34.00 in Saitama versus $45.00 in Queretaro. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Saitama vs $292 in Queretaro – so Queretaro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 15% 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 $1,691 per month in Saitama and $1,941 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.

Public transport costs about 132% less in Saitama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Saitama and $314 in Queretaro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Saitama, where all-in costs run around $1,127, than in Queretaro at $1,294. 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 $1,127 versus $1,294 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.