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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Mexico City is about 60% cheaper than Hafnarfjordur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$223

$27.17 ISK 3,383

-52.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 MX$903

$145 ISK 18.0K

-63.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.43 MX$162

$16.06 ISK 2,000

-41.28%

Cappuccino

$3.57 MX$61.3

$6.26 ISK 779

-42.97%

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

$1.61 MX$27.55

$3.33 ISK 414

-51.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.15 MX$19.81

$2.50 ISK 312

-54.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 MX$54.0

$12.85 ISK 1,599

-75.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.86 MX$83.4

$11.35 ISK 1,413

-57.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 MX$29.17

$1.68 ISK 209

1.19%

White Bread (500g)

$2.64 MX$45.23

$4.25 ISK 529

-37.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 MX$32.67

$3.56 ISK 443

-46.63%

Eggs

$2.54 MX$43.62

$6.51 ISK 810

-60.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$173

$18.32 ISK 2,281

-44.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$142

$24.43 ISK 3,042

-66.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 MX$199

$41.97 ISK 5,225

-72.43%

Apples (1kg)

$3.03 MX$52.0

$3.35 ISK 417

-9.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 MX$29.35

$2.46 ISK 306

-30.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 MX$35.16

$3.02 ISK 376

-32.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.36

$5.05 ISK 629

-59.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.43

$3.57 ISK 444

-42.30%

Onion (1kg)

$2.17 MX$37.25

$2.45 ISK 305

-11.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.40 MX$24.08

$3.19 ISK 397

-56.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.26

$2.01 ISK 250

-44.28%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MX$73.7

$13.54 ISK 1,686

-68.32%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.41 MX$265

$23.20 ISK 2,888

-33.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 MX$28.74

$3.70 ISK 460

-54.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 MX$63.3

$3.25 ISK 405

13.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 MX$6.55

$5.09 ISK 634

-92.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.06 MX$327

$84.4 ISK 10.5K

-77.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$23.70

$6.25 ISK 778

-77.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.74

$2.63 ISK 328

-89.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$92.9

$85.6 ISK 10.7K

-93.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.28 MX$21.98

$2.49 ISK 311

-48.59%

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

$19.0K MX$325.8K

$48.1K ISK 6.0M

-60.51%

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

$23.5K MX$402.7K

$52.4K ISK 6.5M

-55.26%

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

$41.02 MX$704

$68.0 ISK 8,465

-39.67%

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

$26.92 MX$462

$27.22 ISK 3,389

-1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 MX$510

$86.1 ISK 10.7K

-65.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 MX$898

$64.7 ISK 8,053

-19.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.23 MX$450

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MX$106

$16.66 ISK 2,074

-62.91%

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

$427 MX$7,331

$325 ISK 40.5K

31.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$183.6K

$30.6K ISK 3.8M

-65.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$975

$119 ISK 14.8K

-52.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.83 MX$769

$62.5 ISK 7,778

-28.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 MX$1,794

$119 ISK 14.8K

-12.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 MX$1,819

$266 ISK 33.1K

-60.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$995 MX$17.1K

$2,423 ISK 301.6K

-58.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 MX$10.7K

$2,037 ISK 253.6K

-69.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,126 MX$36.5K

$3,250 ISK 404.7K

-34.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,254 MX$21.5K

$2,547 ISK 317.0K

-50.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,903 MX$67.0K

$6,850 ISK 852.8K

-43.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,096 MX$36.0K

$6,826 ISK 849.8K

-69.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,107 MX$19.0K

$4,665 ISK 580.8K

-76.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

9.63

17.76%

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

Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026

Last update for Hafnarfjordur: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $995 in Mexico City versus $2,423 in Hafnarfjordur. 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 $53.0 in Mexico City versus $145 in Hafnarfjordur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $288 vs $595 – 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

Mexico City vs Hafnarfjordur: 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 $2,171 per month in Mexico City and $5,492 in Hafnarfjordur. 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 $1,447 in Mexico City and $3,661 in Hafnarfjordur. 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.