Moving to Mexico from Japan
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Japan to Mexico — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Japan to Mexico, you would find that Mexico is 2.0% cheaper than Japan overall. A ¥12,124,875 salary in Japan would need to be roughly MX$1,267,629 in Mexico to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Spanish. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Japan to Mexico.
What does your salary buy?
¥12,124,875 → MX$1,267,629
To maintain the same standard of living in Mexico
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 45.9% more
Groceries
pay 11.1% less
Transportation
pay 13.6% less
Housing
pay 9.6% less
Childcare
pay 39.0% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 14.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Mexico cost about 6% more than cities in Japan.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Japan to Mexico, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Japan to Mexico.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Japan performs better than Mexico across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Japan generally does better on environment, though Mexico leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Japan performs better than Mexico across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Japan generally does better on employment & economy, though Mexico leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Japan generally does better on family life, though Mexico leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Agency Japan, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Tokyo | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) |
View all months
| Month | Tokyo | Mexico City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) |
| Feb | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) |
| Mar | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) |
| Apr | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) |
| May | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) |
| Jun | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) |
| Jul | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) |
| Aug | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) |
| Sep | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) |
| Oct | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) |
| Nov | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) |
| Dec | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) |
Data:
Japan Meteorological Agency,
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Japan and Mexico. To live, work, or study long-term in Mexico, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Mexico's immigration authority.
Japan passport holder visiting Mexico
Visa Free
Mexico passport holder visiting Japan
Visa FreeData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Mexico than Japan?
Yes — Mexico is on average about 3% cheaper than Japan. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Mexico?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly MX$316,907 in Mexico on a ¥12,124,875 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Mexico?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Mexico has 20.5 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Mexico safe for expats?
Japan performs better than Mexico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Mexico is 26.1 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Japan. About 38% of people in Mexico feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Mexico compared to Japan?
Japan generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Mexico leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 25.6 doctors per 10,000 people in Mexico, compared to 26.1 in Japan. Mexico scores 75 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Japan: 83).
What's the weather like in Mexico compared to Japan?
The average high temperature in Mexico City is 74°F, compared to 69°F in Tokyo. Mexico City receives around 32.1 in of rainfall per year, while Tokyo gets 62.9 in.
What language do they speak in Mexico?
The official language in Mexico is Spanish. In Japan, the official language is Japanese.
