🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,646 in Mexico City versus $3,030 in Fredrikstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,613 in Mexico City versus $4,355 in Fredrikstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,580 in Mexico City versus $5,681 in Fredrikstad.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 46% less than in Fredrikstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City20% above, Fredrikstad121% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11MX$206
$23.41NOK 218
-48.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$887
$119NOK 1,110
-56.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.90MX$185
$12.56NOK 117
-13.22%
Cappuccino
$4.05MX$68.8
$6.72NOK 62.6
-39.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.72MX$29.13
$5.87NOK 54.7
-70.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38MX$23.40
$4.60NOK 42.82
-70.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$58.9
$12.33NOK 115
-71.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.81MX$98.7
$9.41NOK 87.7
-38.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.48
$2.42NOK 22.54
-23.55%
White Bread(500g)
$3.22MX$54.7
$4.34NOK 40.42
-25.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.42
$3.56NOK 33.13
-41.29%
Eggs
$2.91MX$49.41
$6.10NOK 56.9
-52.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.49MX$212
$13.26NOK 124
-5.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$18.44NOK 172
-45.17%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.89MX$270
$35.83NOK 334
-55.65%
Apples(1kg)
$3.31MX$56.3
$4.68NOK 43.62
-29.27%
Banana(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.12
$3.55NOK 33.03
-40.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.20
$4.46NOK 41.58
-50.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45MX$41.57
$5.21NOK 48.57
-52.98%
Potato(1kg)
$2.19MX$37.18
$2.95NOK 27.45
-25.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.35
$2.83NOK 26.35
-32.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.62MX$27.44
$2.96NOK 27.61
-45.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.35MX$22.92
$2.40NOK 22.37
-43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.43MX$92.1
$16.07NOK 150
-66.21%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.59MX$299
$22.17NOK 207
-20.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.12
$3.58NOK 33.35
-42.18%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75MX$80.6
$4.28NOK 39.88
10.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.77
$4.16NOK 38.72
-91.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.58MX$366
$66.8NOK 622
-67.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.04MX$34.65
$12.99NOK 121
-84.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.82
$1.69NOK 15.76
-65.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.97MX$101
$72.7NOK 677
-91.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.62MX$27.44
$2.39NOK 22.29
-32.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$387.4K
$42.7KNOK 397.8K
-46.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.7KMX$452.8K
$50.0KNOK 466.3K
-46.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,108
$338NOK 3,153
-80.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.87MX$507
$46.68NOK 435
-36.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.55MX$621
$66.5NOK 619
-45.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.0MX$1,036
$59.1NOK 550
3.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.70MX$453
$41.58NOK 387
-35.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.85MX$116
$20.69NOK 193
-66.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$453MX$7,700
$174NOK 1,621
160.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.4KMX$227.1K
$11.1KNOK 103.3K
20.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.0MX$1,273
$162NOK 1,508
-53.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.3MX$939
$79.4NOK 740
-30.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114MX$1,929
$144NOK 1,343
-21.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123MX$2,083
$114NOK 1,061
7.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,134MX$19.3K
$1,391NOK 13.0K
-18.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$712MX$12.1K
$1,125NOK 10.5K
-36.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,571MX$43.7K
$1,851NOK 17.2K
38.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,311MX$22.3K
$1,510NOK 14.1K
-13.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,993MX$67.8K
$6,312NOK 58.8K
-36.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,095MX$35.6K
$4,204NOK 39.2K
-50.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Fredrikstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,047MX$17.8K
$3,454NOK 32.2K
-69.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.95
128.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Fredrikstad: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,134 in Mexico City and $1,391 in Fredrikstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Fredrikstad pays 230% 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: $52.0 in Mexico City vs $119 in Fredrikstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $560 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
Mexico City vs Fredrikstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fredrikstad cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Fredrikstad?
On paper, salaries run 230% lower in Fredrikstad. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Fredrikstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,134 in Mexico City versus $1,391 in Fredrikstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $453 in Mexico City versus $174 in Fredrikstad. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Fredrikstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 62% higher in Fredrikstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Fredrikstad?
At $1,646 in Mexico City versus $3,030 in Fredrikstad, a $3,000 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 Mexico City or Fredrikstad 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, Mexico City or Fredrikstad?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Fredrikstad 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.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared