🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,376 in Grimstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,522 in Grimstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,667 in Grimstad.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 38% less than in Grimstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Grimstad77% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$23.19NOK 216
-43.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$934
$50.5NOK 470
6.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$14.85NOK 138
-36.57%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.5
$4.59NOK 42.73
-22.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.03
$4.13NOK 38.41
-60.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.31
$3.30NOK 30.70
-66.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.1
$12.12NOK 113
-74.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.2
$10.08NOK 93.9
-54.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.48
$2.37NOK 22.08
-28.27%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.10
$3.17NOK 29.52
-14.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.13
$3.02NOK 28.12
-36.75%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.94
$3.28NOK 30.51
-22.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$10.70NOK 99.6
-6.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$13.68NOK 127
-40.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$16.50NOK 154
-29.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.4
$1.98NOK 18.40
50.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.30
$2.34NOK 21.75
-22.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.88
$3.44NOK 32.00
-41.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.26
$3.98NOK 37.07
-48.99%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.82
$2.51NOK 23.36
-15.54%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.32
$2.69NOK 25.09
-15.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.26
$2.85NOK 26.50
-50.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.59
$1.79NOK 16.70
-36.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.0
$17.44NOK 162
-75.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$270
$15.90NOK 148
-2.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.44
$3.35NOK 31.17
-47.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.3
$4.30NOK 40.04
-16.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.64
$5.00NOK 46.53
-92.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$76.8NOK 715
-75.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.84
$10.17NOK 94.7
-86.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.79
$1.45NOK 13.54
-80.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.4
$41.98NOK 391
-87.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.60
$2.17NOK 20.24
-40.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.8K
$36.0KNOK 335.4K
-48.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.8K
$42.7KNOK 397.2K
-45.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$708
$305NOK 2,839
-86.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$465
$27.64NOK 257
-3.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$519
$56.3NOK 524
-46.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$901
$50.1NOK 467
3.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$465
$35.26NOK 328
-23.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$14.95NOK 139
-57.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,558
$271NOK 2,518
61.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.5K
$14.9KNOK 139.0K
-30.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$982
$49.92NOK 465
13.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$769
$61.6NOK 573
-27.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,784
$100NOK 932
2.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,829
$163NOK 1,520
-35.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$1,214NOK 11.3K
-15.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$891NOK 8,297
-29.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.0K
$1,790NOK 16.7K
19.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,535NOK 14.3K
-19.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.8K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$4,641NOK 43.2K
-75.97%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.9
131.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Grimstad: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,214 in Grimstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimstad pays 316% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $51.0 in Grimstad. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $391, 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
Mexico City vs Grimstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Grimstad cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Grimstad?
On paper, Grimstad earns 316% less. 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 Grimstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,214 in Grimstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Mexico City vs Grimstad?
All in, you'll spend $1,467 per month in Mexico City versus $2,376 in Grimstad – a 62% 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 301% 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 Mexico City or Grimstad?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,376 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 Mexico City or Grimstad 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, Mexico City or Grimstad?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Grimstad 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 62% less than in Grimstad. 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