Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Shiga and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Shiga: $1,207 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Shiga, Japan
Mexico City, Mexico
Shiga
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,207
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Shiga and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Shiga versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Shiga $1,207
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,897 in Shiga versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Shiga $1,897
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,588 in Shiga versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Shiga $2,588
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Shiga costs roughly 25% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Shiga is 11% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.19 ¥976
$10.62 MX$200
-41.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.73 ¥5,003
$48.35 MX$909
-34.37%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.96 ¥782
$10.35 MX$194
-52.08%
Cappuccino
$2.95 ¥465
$3.69 MX$69.4
-20.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 ¥206
$1.67 MX$31.32
-21.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 ¥110
$1.27 MX$23.78
-44.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.76 ¥436
$3.19 MX$60.0
-13.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53 ¥557
$5.31 MX$99.7
-33.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 ¥203
$1.72 MX$32.41
-25.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.24 ¥196
$3.04 MX$57.1
-59.21%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.89 ¥613
$1.94 MX$36.48
100.52%
Eggs
$2.04 ¥321
$2.89 MX$54.3
-29.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.45 ¥1,490
$10.97 MX$206
-13.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.19 ¥1,450
$9.25 MX$174
-0.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.48 ¥2,914
$15.13 MX$284
22.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.44 ¥542
$3.05 MX$57.3
12.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.03 ¥320
$1.94 MX$36.48
4.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.04 ¥322
$2.03 MX$38.06
0.49%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.97 ¥625
$2.31 MX$43.50
71.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.52 ¥240
$2.04 MX$38.25
-25.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 ¥179
$1.80 MX$33.83
-36.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.36 ¥215
$1.48 MX$27.80
-8.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87 ¥137
$1.27 MX$23.82
-31.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.97 ¥626
$5.30 MX$99.7
-25.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.77 ¥1,541
$16.10 MX$303
-39.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.90 ¥300
$1.98 MX$37.27
-4.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 ¥493
$4.25 MX$79.9
-26.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.16 ¥183
$0.31 MX$5.73
274.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.2 ¥8,863
$19.73 MX$371
184.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.86 ¥609
$1.84 MX$34.53
109.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.20 ¥504
$0.53 MX$10.03
503.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.98 ¥3,466
$5.30 MX$99.5
314.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 ¥172
$1.51 MX$28.39
-27.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K ¥3.6M
$21.8K MX$408.8K
4.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.3K ¥2.4M
$24.0K MX$450.8K
-36.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 ¥21.6K
$63.0 MX$1,184
117.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.58 ¥3,876
$27.39 MX$515
-10.26%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.76 ¥2,957
$35.67 MX$670
-47.41%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$52.0 ¥8,202
$58.9 MX$1,108
-11.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.64 MX$444
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.55 ¥1,979
$6.40 MX$120
96.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$697 ¥110.0K
$432 MX$8,111
61.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K ¥2.1M
$11.4K MX$214.7K
17.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.59 ¥7,662
$68.2 MX$1,282
-28.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.84 ¥4,863
$53.1 MX$999
-41.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.3 ¥11.6K
$108 MX$2,026
-31.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.1 ¥14.2K
$117 MX$2,204
-23.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$551 ¥86.9K
$1,113 MX$20.9K
-50.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$337 ¥53.1K
$710 MX$13.4K
-52.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$998 ¥157.3K
$2,588 MX$48.6K
-61.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$727 ¥114.7K
$1,406 MX$26.4K
-48.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,617 ¥728.0K
$3,631 MX$68.2K
27.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,022 ¥318.8K
$2,135 MX$40.1K
-5.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Shiga
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,210 ¥190.9K
$946 MX$17.8K
27.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
2.21
11.35
-80.53%

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

Last update for Shiga: October 27, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Shiga
$337
Mexico City
$710 111% $374
Groceries & Markets
Shiga
$294
Mexico City
$320 8.7% $25
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Shiga
$180
Mexico City
$126 30.1% $54
Eating Out
Shiga
$129
Mexico City
$199 54.4% $70
Clothing & Footwear
Shiga
$109
Mexico City
$156 42.6% $47
Getting Around
Shiga
$81
Mexico City
$25 68.5% $55
Sport & Entertainment
Shiga
$77
Mexico City
$72 7% $5.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $551 in Shiga and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Shiga pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $32 in Shiga vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $294 vs $320 per month, with Shiga cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Shiga
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
21:14 9:14 PM
06:14 6:14 AM
15 h behind Shiga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
23,836
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to JPY – Japanese Yen Converter

Japanese Yen exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 158 JPY (1,000 JPY = 6.34 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.68 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.79 MXN (100 MXN = 5.32 USD). 1 EUR = 20.97 MXN (100 MXN = 4.77 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Shiga Mexico City 11,610 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Shiga
  • Mexico City

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
Shiga vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Shiga and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,207 in Shiga and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Shiga is about 25% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Shiga or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 28% higher in Shiga, 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 Shiga and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $551 in Shiga versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Shiga and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 65% less than in Shiga. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Shiga and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $697 in Shiga versus $432 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $2,000 go in Shiga compared to Mexico City?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Shiga 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 Shiga 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.

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