😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $3,470 in Yens versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $5,210 in Yens versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $6,951 in Yens versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Yens is roughly 109% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Yens154% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$28.97CHF 23.81
$11.92MX$205
143.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$122CHF 100
$51.6MX$889
136.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.03CHF 13.17
$11.41MX$197
40.49%
Cappuccino
$6.10CHF 5.01
$3.99MX$68.8
52.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.04CHF 4.14
$1.66MX$28.57
203.61%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11CHF 3.38
$1.33MX$22.84
209.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$9.18CHF 7.55
$3.47MX$59.8
164.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.16CHF 6.71
$5.90MX$102
38.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.24CHF 1.84
$1.88MX$32.31
19.15%
White Bread(500g)
$3.07CHF 2.52
$3.25MX$56.0
-5.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.18CHF 2.62
$2.16MX$37.21
47.22%
Eggs
$7.37CHF 6.06
$2.90MX$49.87
154.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$24.52CHF 20.15
$12.86MX$221
90.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$28.06CHF 23.06
$10.05MX$173
179.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$39.21CHF 32.22
$15.86MX$273
147.23%
Apples(1kg)
$3.60CHF 2.96
$3.29MX$56.7
9.42%
Banana(1kg)
$2.03CHF 1.67
$2.01MX$34.55
1.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64CHF 2.17
$2.20MX$37.88
20.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.53CHF 3.72
$2.36MX$40.57
91.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.70CHF 1.40
$2.05MX$35.38
-17.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99CHF 1.64
$1.90MX$32.75
4.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.05CHF 1.69
$1.61MX$27.64
27.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31CHF 1.08
$1.40MX$24.05
-6.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$11.27CHF 9.27
$5.46MX$94.1
106.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.42CHF 10.21
$17.65MX$304
-29.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35CHF 1.93
$2.06MX$35.39
14.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04CHF 2.50
$4.68MX$80.7
-35.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.42CHF 3.64
$0.34MX$5.83
1200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$99.3CHF 81.6
$20.81MX$358
377.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$7.86CHF 6.46
$2.10MX$36.11
274.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.65CHF 3.82
$0.56MX$9.63
730.36%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$86.8CHF 71.3
$5.81MX$100
1394.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.37CHF 1.95
$1.61MX$27.65
47.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$44.6KCHF 36.7K
$22.8KMX$393.3K
95.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.4KCHF 32.4K
$26.8KMX$460.6K
47.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$283CHF 233
$65.2MX$1,122
334.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.77CHF 23.64
$30.09MX$518
-4.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.4CHF 42.23
$37.18MX$640
38.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$92.7CHF 76.2
$59.8MX$1,029
55.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.86CHF 37.68
$26.55MX$457
72.73%
Cinema Ticket
$24.87CHF 20.43
$7.04MX$121
253.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$2,953CHF 2,427
$465MX$8,001
535.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$31.6KCHF 26.0K
$13.3KMX$228.6K
138.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$145CHF 119
$75.9MX$1,307
90.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.9CHF 50.9
$56.0MX$963
10.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$141CHF 116
$112MX$1,926
26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$203CHF 167
$121MX$2,075
68.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,773CHF 1,457
$1,103MX$19.0K
60.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,479CHF 1,215
$721MX$12.4K
105.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,925CHF 2,404
$2,530MX$43.6K
15.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,547CHF 2,093
$1,293MX$22.3K
96.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$16.6KCHF 13.7K
$3,991MX$68.7K
316.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$12.2KCHF 10.0K
$2,090MX$36.0K
485.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yens
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,037MX$17.9K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
1.95
11.3
-82.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yens: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,773 in Yens and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $122 in Yens vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $566 vs $345 per month, with Mexico City 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
Yens vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Yens and in Mexico City?
Yens and Mexico City differ by about 109% in total monthly costs ($3,470 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Yens compared to Mexico City?
You'd need roughly $5,205 in Yens and $2,489 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Yens and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,773 in Yens versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Yens and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 377% less than in Yens. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Yens and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $2,953 in Yens versus $465 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $3,470 in Yens, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Yens. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Yens 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 Yens or Mexico City safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Yens 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: Yens or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 109% less than in Yens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.