😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,417 in Hamar versus $1,660 in Mexico City.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,870 in Hamar versus $2,565 in Mexico City.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,324 in Hamar versus $3,470 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Hamar is roughly 46% more expensive than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Hamar77% above, Mexico City21% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.27NOK 200
$11.92MX$206
78.44%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$130NOK 1,221
$51.6MX$890
151.14%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$16.05NOK 151
$11.41MX$197
40.67%
Cappuccino
$6.13NOK 57.7
$3.99MX$68.9
53.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14NOK 39.05
$1.66MX$28.61
149.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35NOK 31.56
$1.33MX$22.87
151.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$12.03NOK 113
$3.47MX$59.9
246.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$8.43NOK 79.4
$5.90MX$102
42.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.51NOK 23.66
$1.88MX$32.36
33.51%
White Bread(500g)
$3.03NOK 28.54
$3.25MX$56.1
-6.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.13NOK 20.04
$2.16MX$37.26
-1.39%
Eggs
$5.90NOK 55.6
$2.90MX$49.94
103.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.32NOK 107
$12.86MX$222
-11.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.64NOK 119
$10.05MX$173
25.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$29.76NOK 280
$15.86MX$273
87.64%
Apples(1kg)
$3.40NOK 32.05
$3.29MX$56.8
3.34%
Banana(1kg)
$2.66NOK 25.06
$2.01MX$34.60
32.34%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.18NOK 29.97
$2.20MX$37.93
44.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.98NOK 56.3
$2.36MX$40.63
153.39%
Potato(1kg)
$2.51NOK 23.69
$2.05MX$35.43
22.44%
Onion(1kg)
$2.54NOK 23.94
$1.90MX$32.79
33.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.13NOK 20.03
$1.61MX$27.68
32.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.02NOK 19.06
$1.40MX$24.09
44.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$19.26NOK 181
$5.46MX$94.2
252.75%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.86NOK 159
$17.65MX$304
-4.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.61NOK 34.01
$2.06MX$35.44
75.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37NOK 41.22
$4.68MX$80.8
-6.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$4.68NOK 44.10
$0.34MX$5.84
1276.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.9NOK 658
$20.81MX$359
235.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$12.00NOK 113
$2.10MX$36.15
471.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86NOK 17.52
$0.56MX$9.64
232.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$71.9NOK 677
$5.81MX$100
1136.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.36NOK 22.25
$1.61MX$27.68
46.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$48.5KNOK 457.0K
$22.8KMX$393.8K
112.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$46.2KNOK 434.9K
$26.8KMX$461.2K
72.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$227NOK 2,137
$65.2MX$1,124
247.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.60NOK 307
$30.09MX$519
8.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$56.7NOK 534
$37.18MX$641
52.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8NOK 544
$59.8MX$1,030
-3.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.57NOK 288
$26.55MX$458
15.14%
Cinema Ticket
$19.33NOK 182
$7.04MX$121
174.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$217NOK 2,044
$465MX$8,012
-53.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.0KNOK 150.5K
$13.3KMX$228.9K
20.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101NOK 950
$75.9MX$1,308
32.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.8NOK 572
$56.0MX$965
8.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$133NOK 1,254
$112MX$1,929
19.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105NOK 991
$121MX$2,078
-12.73%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,235NOK 11.6K
$1,103MX$19.0K
12.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882NOK 8,309
$721MX$12.4K
22.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,635NOK 15.4K
$2,530MX$43.6K
-35.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,540NOK 14.5K
$1,293MX$22.3K
19.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,449NOK 41.9K
$3,991MX$68.8K
11.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,468NOK 32.7K
$2,090MX$36.0K
65.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamar
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,256NOK 40.1K
$1,037MX$17.9K
310.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.98
11.3
-55.93%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hamar: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,235 in Hamar and $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Hamar pays 310% 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: $130 in Hamar vs $52.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $455 vs $345 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
Hamar vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Hamar and in Mexico City?
Hamar and Mexico City differ by about 46% in total monthly costs ($2,417 vs $1,660 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Hamar or Mexico City?
Average pay runs 310% higher in Hamar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Hamar and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,235 in Hamar versus $1,103 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Hamar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $130 in Hamar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,417 in Hamar, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Hamar. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Hamar and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Hamar or Mexico City?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 46% less than in Hamar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.