🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,217 in Grimstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,608 in Mexico City versus $3,795 in Grimstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,540 in Mexico City versus $5,373 in Grimstad.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 24% less than in Grimstad, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City22% above, Grimstad61% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.14MX$206
$21.54NOK 200
-43.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$916
$79.4NOK 738
-32.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.09MX$188
$15.52NOK 144
-28.54%
Cappuccino
$4.10MX$69.6
$4.83NOK 44.89
-15.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.57
$4.34NOK 40.32
-61.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.58
$3.52NOK 32.72
-60.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.33MX$56.6
$11.77NOK 109
-71.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.88MX$99.9
$10.92NOK 101
-46.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.85MX$31.45
$2.60NOK 24.13
-28.85%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.9
$3.76NOK 34.89
-15.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.07MX$35.18
$3.15NOK 29.25
-34.29%
Eggs
$2.93MX$49.74
$3.62NOK 33.61
-19.06%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.59MX$214
$13.35NOK 124
-5.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.11MX$172
$14.60NOK 136
-30.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.09MX$273
$25.16NOK 234
-36.05%
Apples(1kg)
$3.39MX$57.6
$2.18NOK 20.28
55.50%
Banana(1kg)
$2.08MX$35.31
$2.38NOK 22.13
-12.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.02
$3.50NOK 32.53
-39.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41MX$41.01
$4.41NOK 40.96
-45.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.13MX$36.17
$2.78NOK 25.85
-23.38%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.07
$2.98NOK 27.69
-32.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55MX$26.25
$3.20NOK 29.76
-51.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.36MX$23.19
$1.93NOK 17.96
-29.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.77MX$98.0
$19.65NOK 183
-70.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.74MX$301
$15.93NOK 148
11.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.07MX$35.16
$3.48NOK 32.34
-40.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61MX$78.4
$4.44NOK 41.24
3.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.37MX$6.21
$5.53NOK 51.4
-93.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$21.18MX$360
$95.2NOK 885
-77.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.05MX$34.89
$12.33NOK 115
-83.37%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.58MX$9.80
$1.85NOK 17.15
-68.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.07MX$103
$71.1NOK 660
-91.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.55MX$26.38
$2.25NOK 20.91
-31.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KMX$388.6K
$49.3KNOK 457.6K
-53.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KMX$462.7K
$46.3KNOK 429.7K
-41.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.4MX$1,145
$317NOK 2,947
-78.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.62MX$520
$33.46NOK 311
-8.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.24MX$633
$57.6NOK 535
-35.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$61.5MX$1,044
$43.15NOK 401
42.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.12MX$461
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.11MX$121
$16.42NOK 153
-56.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$456MX$7,750
$254NOK 2,358
79.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.7KMX$232.6K
$16.3KNOK 151.2K
-15.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.2MX$1,260
$97.7NOK 908
-24.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.0MX$969
$54.4NOK 505
4.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$115MX$1,961
$108NOK 999
7.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,064
$158NOK 1,469
-23.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,148MX$19.5K
$919NOK 8,541
24.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$709MX$12.1K
$535NOK 4,971
32.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,577MX$43.8K
$1,988NOK 18.5K
29.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,295MX$22.0K
$1,829NOK 17.0K
-29.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,005MX$68.0K
$4,773NOK 44.3K
-16.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,130MX$36.2K
$3,457NOK 32.1K
-38.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Grimstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,082MX$18.4K
$4,632NOK 43.0K
-76.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.9
130.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Last update for Grimstad: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,148 in Mexico City and $919 in Grimstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Grimstad pays 328% 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 $79.0 in Grimstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $449 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 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 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Grimstad?
On paper, salaries run 328% lower in Grimstad. 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: $1,148 in Mexico City versus $919 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 and in Grimstad?
All in, you'll spend $1,677 per month in Mexico City versus $2,217 in Grimstad – a 32% 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 350% less than in Grimstad. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Grimstad?
At $1,677 in Mexico City versus $2,217 in Grimstad, a $3,000 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 32% 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