Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Mexico City Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafnarfjordur and Mexico City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $3,661 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $1,447 in Mexico City, rent included.

A couple spends around $5,235 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $2,310 in Mexico City, rent included.

A family of three spends $6,808 per month in Hafnarfjordur vs $3,174 in Mexico City, rent included.

Hafnarfjordur costs about 153% more than Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Hafnarfjordur and Mexico City sit above the global median – Hafnarfjordur by 172%, Mexico City by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$27.17 ISK 3,383

$12.98 MX$223

109.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$145 ISK 18.0K

$52.6 MX$903

175.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$16.06 ISK 2,000

$9.43 MX$162

70.31%

Cappuccino

$6.26 ISK 779

$3.57 MX$61.3

75.35%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 ISK 414

$1.61 MX$27.55

106.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 ISK 312

$1.15 MX$19.81

117.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.85 ISK 1,599

$3.15 MX$54.0

307.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.35 ISK 1,413

$4.86 MX$83.4

133.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 ISK 209

$1.70 MX$29.17

-1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$4.25 ISK 529

$2.64 MX$45.23

60.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.56 ISK 443

$1.90 MX$32.67

87.37%

Eggs

$6.51 ISK 810

$2.54 MX$43.62

156.30%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.32 ISK 2,281

$10.08 MX$173

81.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$24.43 ISK 3,042

$8.29 MX$142

194.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$41.97 ISK 5,225

$11.57 MX$199

262.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.35 ISK 417

$3.03 MX$52.0

10.56%

Banana (1kg)

$2.46 ISK 306

$1.71 MX$29.35

43.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.02 ISK 376

$2.05 MX$35.16

47.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$5.05 ISK 629

$2.06 MX$35.36

145.15%

Potato (1kg)

$3.57 ISK 444

$2.06 MX$35.43

73.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.45 ISK 305

$2.17 MX$37.25

12.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$3.19 ISK 397

$1.40 MX$24.08

127.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 ISK 250

$1.12 MX$19.26

79.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$13.54 ISK 1,686

$4.29 MX$73.7

215.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.20 ISK 2,888

$15.41 MX$265

50.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.70 ISK 460

$1.67 MX$28.74

121.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.25 ISK 405

$3.69 MX$63.3

-11.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$5.09 ISK 634

$0.38 MX$6.55

1239.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

$19.06 MX$327

342.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$6.25 ISK 778

$1.38 MX$23.70

352.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 ISK 328

$0.28 MX$4.74

839.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$85.6 ISK 10.7K

$5.42 MX$92.9

1478.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.49 ISK 311

$1.28 MX$21.98

94.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

$19.0K MX$325.8K

153.26%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

$23.5K MX$402.7K

123.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.0 ISK 8,465

$41.02 MX$704

65.75%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.22 ISK 3,389

$26.92 MX$462

1.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$86.1 ISK 10.7K

$29.69 MX$510

190.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 ISK 8,053

$52.3 MX$898

23.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$16.66 ISK 2,074

$6.18 MX$106

169.58%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$325 ISK 40.5K

$427 MX$7,331

-23.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

$10.7K MX$183.6K

185.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$119 ISK 14.8K

$56.8 MX$975

109.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 ISK 7,778

$44.83 MX$769

39.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$119 ISK 14.8K

$105 MX$1,794

13.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$266 ISK 33.1K

$106 MX$1,819

151.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,423 ISK 301.6K

$995 MX$17.1K

143.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,037 ISK 253.6K

$621 MX$10.7K

227.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,250 ISK 404.7K

$2,126 MX$36.5K

52.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,547 ISK 317.0K

$1,254 MX$21.5K

103.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$6,850 ISK 852.8K

$3,903 MX$67.0K

75.51%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$6,826 ISK 849.8K

$2,096 MX$36.0K

225.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,665 ISK 580.8K

$1,107 MX$19.0K

321.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.63

11.34

-15.08%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: June 7, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $2,423 in Hafnarfjordur versus $995 in Mexico City. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 321% higher in Hafnarfjordur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $145 in Hafnarfjordur versus $53.0 in Mexico City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $595 vs $288 – making Mexico City the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Hafnarfjordur vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafnarfjordur costs about 153% more than Mexico City, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $5,492 per month in Hafnarfjordur and $2,171 in Mexico City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mexico City, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur and $1,447 in Mexico City. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 343% less in Mexico City. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mexico City, where all-in costs run around $1,447, than in Hafnarfjordur at $3,661. In Mexico City it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hafnarfjordur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mexico City costs $1,447 versus $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mexico City. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hafnarfjordur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.