Moving to Japan from Mexico
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Mexico to Japan — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Mexico to Japan, you would find that Japan is 22.7% more expensive than Mexico overall. A MX$1,301,610 salary in Mexico would need to be roughly ¥12,348,837 in Japan to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Japanese. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Mexico to Japan.
What does your salary buy?
MX$1,301,610 → ¥12,348,837
To maintain the same standard of living in Japan
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 30.9% less
Groceries
pay 33.2% more
Transportation
pay 29.4% more
Housing
pay 32.2% more
Childcare
pay 80.8% more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 33.3% more
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Get free moving quotes to Japan
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Mexico to Japan, and how the trend has changed.
Who's moving to Japan?
Top countries of origin for Japan's foreign-born residents.
- 775,893
- 456,203
- 335,668
- 275,252
- 204,814
- 58,340
- · · ·
-
29.2,735
Mexico
Key Indicator Comparison
How Mexico and Japan stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
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 significantly 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Mexico generally does better on environment, though Japan leads in air pollution deaths.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Japan performs significantly 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
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: Servicio de Administración Tributaria, SHCP, 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 | Mexico City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/45°F (23°/7°C) | 53°/37°F (12°/3°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 79°/53°F (26°/12°C) | 73°/58°F (23°/14°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 73°/53°F (23°/12°C) | 85°/72°F (30°/22°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 71°/47°F (22°/8°C) | 63°/49°F (17°/9°C) |
View all months
| Month | Mexico City | Tokyo |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/42°F (21.2°/5.8°C) | 50°/34°F (9.8°/1.2°C) |
| Feb | 73°/45°F (22.9°/7.1°C) | 52°/36°F (10.9°/2.1°C) |
| Mar | 78°/49°F (25.7°/9.2°C) | 58°/41°F (14.2°/5.0°C) |
| Apr | 80°/51°F (26.6°/10.8°C) | 67°/50°F (19.4°/9.8°C) |
| May | 80°/53°F (26.5°/11.7°C) | 74°/58°F (23.6°/14.6°C) |
| Jun | 76°/54°F (24.6°/12.2°C) | 79°/65°F (26.1°/18.5°C) |
| Jul | 73°/53°F (23.0°/11.5°C) | 86°/72°F (29.9°/22.4°C) |
| Aug | 74°/53°F (23.3°/11.6°C) | 88°/74°F (31.3°/23.5°C) |
| Sep | 72°/53°F (22.3°/11.5°C) | 82°/69°F (27.5°/20.3°C) |
| Oct | 72°/50°F (22.2°/9.8°C) | 72°/59°F (22.0°/14.8°C) |
| Nov | 71°/46°F (21.8°/7.9°C) | 62°/48°F (16.7°/8.8°C) |
| Dec | 69°/44°F (20.8°/6.6°C) | 54°/39°F (12.0°/3.8°C) |
Data:
Coordinación General del Servicio Meteorológico Nacional,
Japan Meteorological Agency
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Mexico and Japan. To live, work, or study long-term in Japan, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Japan's immigration authority.
Mexico passport holder visiting Japan
Visa Free
Japan passport holder visiting Mexico
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 Japan than Mexico?
Day-to-day costs in Japan run about 3% higher than Mexico on average; specific cities can swing further.
How much money do I need to move to Japan?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a MX$1,301,610 comparable salary, that's around ¥3,087,209 in Japan for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, deposits, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Japan?
With 37.2 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people, Japan can support video calls in major cities. The hard part is paperwork — visa category, employer policy on overseas staff, and tax residency in Mexico and Japan.
Is Japan safe for expats?
Japan performs significantly better than Mexico across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Japan is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 26.1 in Mexico. About 83% of people in Japan feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Japan compared to Mexico?
Mexico generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Japan leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 26.1 doctors per 10,000 people in Japan, compared to 25.6 in Mexico. Japan scores 83 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Mexico: 75).
What's the weather like in Japan compared to Mexico?
The average high temperature in Tokyo is 69°F, compared to 74°F in Mexico City. Tokyo receives around 62.9 in of rainfall per year, while Mexico City gets 32.1 in.
What language do they speak in Japan?
The official language in Japan is Japanese. In Mexico, the official language is Spanish.
