😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,682 in Fredrikstad versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,010 in Fredrikstad versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,338 in Fredrikstad versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Fredrikstad is roughly 84% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Fredrikstad101% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.97NOK 173
$13.07MX$229
37.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$114NOK 1,093
$53.8MX$940
111.16%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.91NOK 115
$9.68MX$169
23.04%
Cappuccino
$5.34NOK 51.4
$3.74MX$65.4
42.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.97NOK 38.21
$1.62MX$28.25
145.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74NOK 26.44
$1.16MX$20.31
136.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$11.01NOK 106
$3.23MX$56.4
240.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.29NOK 99.1
$4.74MX$82.9
117.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.19NOK 21.07
$1.65MX$28.80
32.73%
White Bread(500g)
$4.25NOK 40.97
$2.75MX$48.15
54.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.27NOK 31.50
$1.87MX$32.77
74.87%
Eggs
$5.22NOK 50.3
$2.50MX$43.72
108.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.78NOK 113
$10.20MX$178
15.49%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$16.02NOK 154
$8.25MX$144
94.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$34.17NOK 329
$11.82MX$207
189.09%
Apples(1kg)
$4.51NOK 43.45
$3.01MX$52.6
49.83%
Banana(1kg)
$3.52NOK 33.91
$1.81MX$31.67
94.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.50NOK 43.34
$2.00MX$34.96
125.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.04NOK 48.57
$2.00MX$34.89
152.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.75NOK 26.49
$2.08MX$36.45
32.21%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.61
$2.27MX$39.72
17.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.64NOK 25.47
$1.46MX$25.47
80.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.85NOK 17.79
$1.08MX$18.82
71.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$14.87NOK 143
$4.35MX$76.0
241.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.86NOK 211
$16.99MX$297
28.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.43NOK 33.00
$1.73MX$30.31
98.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.11NOK 58.9
$3.58MX$62.5
70.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.87NOK 37.30
$0.39MX$6.77
892.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$63.7NOK 613
$18.69MX$327
240.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$6.22NOK 59.9
$1.33MX$23.18
367.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.46NOK 14.02
$0.28MX$4.89
421.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$52.3NOK 503
$5.25MX$91.8
895.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.27NOK 21.90
$1.34MX$23.37
69.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KNOK 337.9K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
80.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.1KNOK 376.6K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
64.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$339NOK 3,268
$40.69MX$712
733.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.93NOK 365
$26.87MX$470
41.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.0NOK 549
$30.51MX$534
86.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.85NOK 470
$52.8MX$923
-7.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$39.15NOK 377
$26.65MX$466
46.90%
Cinema Ticket
$22.16NOK 213
$6.51MX$114
240.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$284NOK 2,734
$428MX$7,485
-33.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.2KNOK 98.2K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
-2.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$154NOK 1,483
$57.3MX$1,001
168.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2NOK 580
$45.50MX$796
32.37%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$166NOK 1,604
$104MX$1,819
60.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133NOK 1,278
$108MX$1,885
23.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,266NOK 12.2K
$1,003MX$17.5K
26.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$943NOK 9,086
$623MX$10.9K
51.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,100NOK 20.2K
$2,109MX$36.9K
-0.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,541NOK 14.8K
$1,218MX$21.3K
26.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,874NOK 56.6K
$3,885MX$67.9K
51.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,915NOK 37.7K
$2,033MX$35.5K
92.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fredrikstad
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,227NOK 31.1K
$1,038MX$18.1K
210.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
11.34
-62.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fredrikstad: July 12, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,266 in Fredrikstad and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredrikstad pays 211% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $114 in Fredrikstad vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $523 vs $292 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
Fredrikstad vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Fredrikstad?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Fredrikstad or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 211% higher in Fredrikstad, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Fredrikstad and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,266 in Fredrikstad versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $284 in Fredrikstad versus $428 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Fredrikstad and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 79% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Fredrikstad or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,682 in Fredrikstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Fredrikstad. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Fredrikstad or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Fredrikstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Fredrikstad or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Fredrikstad 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 84% less than in Fredrikstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Fredrikstad vs other spots: cost of living compared