Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Tsu and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Tsu: $1,287 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Tsu, Japan
Mexico City, Mexico
Tsu
🇯🇵 Japan
$1,287
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Tsu 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 Tsu and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,287 in Tsu versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Tsu $1,287
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,999 in Tsu versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Tsu $1,999
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,710 in Tsu versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Tsu $2,710
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Tsu costs roughly 20% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tsu is 5% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.22 ¥982
$10.62 MX$199
-41.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.49 ¥2,763
$48.35 MX$906
-63.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.91 ¥617
$10.35 MX$194
-62.22%
Cappuccino
$2.34 ¥369
$3.69 MX$69.2
-36.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 ¥181
$1.67 MX$31.23
-31.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58 ¥90.9
$1.27 MX$23.71
-54.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.10 ¥331
$3.19 MX$59.8
-34.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 ¥372
$5.31 MX$99.5
-55.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.58 ¥249
$1.72 MX$32.32
-8.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.28 ¥203
$3.04 MX$57.0
-57.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.63 ¥889
$1.94 MX$36.38
190.21%
Eggs
$2.02 ¥319
$2.89 MX$54.1
-30.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.56 ¥1,984
$10.97 MX$206
14.49%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.77 ¥1,543
$9.25 MX$173
5.62%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$32.52 ¥5,135
$15.13 MX$283
114.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.68 ¥581
$3.05 MX$57.1
20.66%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 ¥362
$1.94 MX$36.38
18.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$6.41 ¥1,012
$2.03 MX$37.95
215.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.17 ¥659
$2.31 MX$43.38
80.52%
Potato (1kg)
$3.84 ¥607
$2.04 MX$38.14
88.24%
Onion (1kg)
$3.47 ¥548
$1.80 MX$33.73
92.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 ¥205
$1.48 MX$27.72
-12.16%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 ¥163
$1.27 MX$23.75
-18.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.53 ¥558
$5.30 MX$99.4
-33.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.37 ¥1,322
$16.10 MX$302
-48.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 ¥323
$1.98 MX$37.16
3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.47 ¥233
$4.25 MX$79.7
-65.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.48 ¥234
$0.31 MX$5.72
377.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$56.5 ¥8,926
$19.73 MX$370
186.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 ¥509
$1.84 MX$34.44
75.54%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 ¥509
$0.53 MX$10.00
507.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.97 ¥4,259
$5.30 MX$99.2
408.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 ¥164
$1.51 MX$28.31
-31.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0K ¥3.0M
$21.8K MX$407.7K
-12.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.7K ¥2.6M
$24.0K MX$449.5K
-30.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$145 ¥22.8K
$63.0 MX$1,180
129.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.21 ¥3,824
$27.39 MX$513
-11.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$43.47 ¥6,866
$35.67 MX$668
21.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.3 ¥8,107
$58.9 MX$1,105
-12.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.93 ¥2,042
$23.64 MX$443
-45.30%
Cinema Ticket
$8.34 ¥1,317
$6.40 MX$120
30.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$322 ¥50.8K
$432 MX$8,088
-25.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,217 ¥981.8K
$11.4K MX$214.1K
-45.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.15 ¥7,762
$68.2 MX$1,278
-27.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.83 ¥4,079
$53.1 MX$996
-51.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.87 ¥7,403
$108 MX$2,020
-56.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.4 ¥10.3K
$117 MX$2,198
-44.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$544 ¥85.9K
$1,113 MX$20.9K
-51.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$342 ¥53.9K
$710 MX$13.3K
-51.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,021 ¥161.2K
$2,588 MX$48.5K
-60.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$738 ¥116.6K
$1,406 MX$26.3K
-47.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,287 ¥677.0K
$3,631 MX$68.0K
18.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,268 ¥358.3K
$2,135 MX$40.0K
6.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tsu
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,511 ¥238.6K
$946 MX$17.7K
59.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
1.9
11.35
-83.26%

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

Last update for Tsu: October 24, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Tsu
$388
Mexico City
$320 17.6% $68
Accommodation & Living
Tsu
$342
Mexico City
$710 108% $369
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tsu
$212
Mexico City
$126 40.6% $86
Eating Out
Tsu
$112
Mexico City
$199 78% $87
Clothing & Footwear
Tsu
$84
Mexico City
$156 85% $72
Getting Around
Tsu
$82
Mexico City
$25 68.9% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Tsu
$68
Mexico City
$72 5.5% $3.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $544 in Tsu and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tsu pays 60% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $17 in Tsu vs $48 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $388 vs $320, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇯🇵 Tsu
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
01:49 1:49 AM
10:49 10:49 AM
15 h behind Tsu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
279,241
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 = 6.33 USD). 1 EUR = 176 JPY (1,000 JPY = 5.67 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of November 2, 2026: 1 USD = 18.74 MXN (100 MXN = 5.34 USD). 1 EUR = 20.91 MXN (100 MXN = 4.78 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Tsu Mexico City 11,600 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Tsu
  • 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
Tsu vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Tsu and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,287 in Tsu and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Tsu is about 20% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Tsu or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 60% higher in Tsu, 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 Tsu and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $544 in Tsu 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 Tsu and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 65% less than in Tsu. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tsu and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $322 in Tsu versus $432 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is feasible on a $1,000 budget?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Tsu is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
How does quality of life compare between Tsu 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.

Tsu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?