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Mexico City vs Osaka cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money · Updated September 2026
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🇯🇵 OsakaOsaka is 6% cheaper than Mexico City
Living on $3,238 a month in Mexico City feels like about $2,726 in Osaka — same standard of living, compared by feel rather than exchange rate.
Per day
$167 vs $173
Per month
$3,238 vs $2,726
Local meal
MX$ 150 vs ¥ 900
$8.06 vs $6.08
Taxi 5 km
MX$ 78 vs ¥ 2,500
$4.19 vs $16.9
At a glance
FoodOsaka 22% cheaper
Cafés & drinksMexico City 7% cheaper
TransportMexico City 73% cheaper
StayOsaka 25% cheaper
FunMexico City 44% cheaper
- Where Osaka is clearly cheaper: Studio rent (month) (34%↓), Local meal (25%↓), Street food (24%↓)
- Where Mexico City is clearly cheaper: Transit (77%↓), Taxi (75%↓), Tuk-tuk / moto taxi (62%↓)
Item by item
| Item | Mexico City | Osaka | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | MX$ 150$8.06 | ¥ 900$6.08 | Osaka −25% |
| Street food1 item | MX$ 68$3.66 | ¥ 410$2.77 | Osaka −24% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | MX$ 450$24.2 | ¥ 3,000$20.3 | Osaka −16% |
| Coffeeone cup | MX$ 65$3.49 | ¥ 500$3.38 | similar |
| Beerone bottle | MX$ 60$3.23 | ¥ 550$3.72 | Mexico City −13% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | MX$ 160$8.6 | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | Mexico City −9% |
| Bottled water | MX$ 15$0.81 | ¥ 120$0.81 | similar |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | MX$ 38$2.04 | ¥ 300$2.03 | similar |
| Taxi5 km in town | MX$ 78$4.19 | ¥ 2,500$16.9 | Mexico City −75% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | MX$ 66$3.55 | ¥ 1,400$9.46 | Mexico City −62% |
| Transitone ride | MX$ 6$0.32 | ¥ 210$1.42 | Mexico City −77% |
| Scooter rentalper day | MX$ 410$22 | ¥ 4,200$28.4 | Mexico City −22% |
| Hotel night3-star | MX$ 1,800$96.8 | ¥ 12,000$81.1 | Osaka −16% |
| Studio rent (month) | MX$ 18,000$968 | ¥ 95,000$642 | Osaka −34% |
| Laundry | MX$ 33$1.77 | ¥ 700$4.73 | Mexico City −62% |
| SIM card1 week data | MX$ 160$8.6 | ¥ 2,800$18.9 | Mexico City −55% |
| Haircutcut | MX$ 170$9.14 | ¥ 2,900$19.6 | Mexico City −53% |
| Massage1 hour | MX$ 490$26.3 | ¥ 8,400$56.8 | Mexico City −54% |
| Half-day tourper person | MX$ 660$35.5 | ¥ 9,800$66.2 | Mexico City −46% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | MX$ 160$8.6 | ¥ 1,700$11.5 | Mexico City −25% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Mexico City or Osaka?
Osaka is 6% cheaper than Mexico City. Daily budget $167 vs $173; a month $3,238 vs $2,726.
How do monthly costs compare between Mexico City and Osaka?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Mexico City is about $3,238 and Osaka about $2,726 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.