😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,419 in Grimstad versus $1,456 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,510 in Grimstad versus $2,361 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,601 in Grimstad versus $3,266 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Grimstad is roughly 66% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Grimstad81% above, Mexico City9% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.86NOK 220
$13.07MX$229
74.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.4NOK 495
$53.8MX$940
-4.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.51NOK 140
$9.68MX$169
49.90%
Cappuccino
$4.64NOK 44.66
$3.74MX$65.4
24.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.11NOK 39.55
$1.62MX$28.25
153.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31NOK 31.84
$1.16MX$20.31
185.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.28NOK 118
$3.23MX$56.4
280.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.26NOK 98.9
$4.74MX$82.9
116.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.38NOK 22.97
$1.65MX$28.80
44.24%
White Bread(500g)
$3.19NOK 30.68
$2.75MX$48.15
16.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.01NOK 28.99
$1.87MX$32.77
60.96%
Eggs
$3.14NOK 30.26
$2.50MX$43.72
25.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.62NOK 102
$10.20MX$178
4.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$13.86NOK 133
$8.25MX$144
68.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.46NOK 159
$11.82MX$207
39.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.96NOK 18.92
$3.01MX$52.6
-34.88%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31NOK 22.28
$1.81MX$31.67
27.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.36NOK 32.34
$2.00MX$34.96
68.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.16NOK 40.04
$2.00MX$34.89
108.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.55NOK 24.53
$2.08MX$36.45
22.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.59NOK 24.96
$2.27MX$39.72
14.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.82NOK 27.19
$1.46MX$25.47
93.15%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.79NOK 17.20
$1.08MX$18.82
65.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$17.50NOK 169
$4.35MX$76.0
302.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.11NOK 146
$16.99MX$297
-11.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.44NOK 33.14
$1.73MX$30.31
98.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.24NOK 40.87
$3.58MX$62.5
18.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.99NOK 48.02
$0.39MX$6.77
1179.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.6NOK 728
$18.69MX$327
304.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$10.28NOK 99.0
$1.33MX$23.18
672.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.38NOK 13.27
$0.28MX$4.89
392.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$43.03NOK 414
$5.25MX$91.8
719.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.29NOK 22.06
$1.34MX$23.37
70.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KNOK 343.8K
$19.4KMX$339.4K
83.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$43.4KNOK 418.5K
$23.8KMX$416.7K
82.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$301NOK 2,903
$40.69MX$712
640.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.66NOK 266
$26.87MX$470
2.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.2NOK 541
$30.51MX$534
84.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.46NOK 467
$52.8MX$923
-8.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.04NOK 347
$26.65MX$466
35.23%
Cinema Ticket
$15.25NOK 147
$6.51MX$114
134.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$266NOK 2,560
$428MX$7,485
-37.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$14.7KNOK 141.7K
$10.5KMX$183.6K
40.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.94NOK 481
$57.3MX$1,001
-12.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.8NOK 576
$45.50MX$796
31.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5NOK 958
$104MX$1,819
-4.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$163NOK 1,571
$108MX$1,885
51.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,218NOK 11.7K
$1,003MX$17.5K
21.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$883NOK 8,508
$623MX$10.9K
41.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,843NOK 17.8K
$2,109MX$36.9K
-12.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,565NOK 15.1K
$1,218MX$21.3K
28.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,625NOK 44.5K
$3,885MX$67.9K
19.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,233NOK 31.1K
$2,033MX$35.5K
59.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Grimstad
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,383NOK 42.2K
$1,038MX$18.1K
322.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.9
11.34
-56.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Grimstad: July 14, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,218 in Grimstad and $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimstad pays 322% 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: $51.0 in Grimstad vs $54.0 in Mexico City. Groceries flip the comparison at $390 vs $292, with Mexico City cheaper for home cooking.
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
Grimstad vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Grimstad?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Grimstad or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 322% higher in Grimstad, 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 Grimstad and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,218 in Grimstad versus $1,003 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Grimstad and in Mexico City?
All in, you'll spend $2,419 per month in Grimstad versus $1,456 in Mexico City – a 66% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 304% less than in Grimstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Grimstad or in Mexico City?
At $1,456 in Mexico City versus $2,419 in Grimstad, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Grimstad. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Grimstad or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Grimstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Grimstad or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Grimstad 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 66% less than in Grimstad. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.