🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,626 in Harstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,908 in Harstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $5,189 in Harstad.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 37% less than in Harstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Harstad92% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$14.17NOK 134
-15.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$109NOK 1,027
-52.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$16.17NOK 152
-29.44%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$6.56NOK 61.9
-39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$3.84NOK 36.18
-56.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$3.18NOK 29.98
-58.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$12.72NOK 120
-72.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$13.91NOK 131
-57.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$2.58NOK 24.32
-27.13%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.48NOK 32.77
-6.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$3.30NOK 31.06
-34.55%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$4.58NOK 43.18
-36.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$11.19NOK 105
14.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$15.09NOK 142
-33.40%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$42.47NOK 400
-62.66%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$4.24NOK 39.94
-22.41%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.94NOK 27.73
-31.63%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$3.82NOK 35.95
-42.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$4.79NOK 45.12
-50.73%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$2.16NOK 20.37
-5.09%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$2.17NOK 20.48
-12.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$3.02NOK 28.50
-46.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$2.41NOK 22.71
-41.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$16.82NOK 158
-67.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$15.81NOK 149
11.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$4.04NOK 38.03
-49.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$4.98NOK 46.97
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$6.22NOK 58.6
-94.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$84.4NOK 796
-75.36%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$16.02NOK 151
-86.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.84NOK 17.32
-69.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$56.9NOK 536
-89.79%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$2.25NOK 21.20
-28.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$37.6KNOK 354.3K
-39.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$32.0KNOK 301.4K
-16.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$168NOK 1,582
-61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$34.80NOK 328
-13.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$81.9NOK 771
-54.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$51.1NOK 482
16.88%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$37.78NOK 356
-29.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$17.55NOK 165
-59.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$246NOK 2,319
88.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$5,377NOK 50.7K
146.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$68.7NOK 647
10.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$36.02NOK 339
55.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$124NOK 1,170
-9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$168NOK 1,580
-28.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$1,387NOK 13.1K
-20.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$1,092NOK 10.3K
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$2,321NOK 21.9K
8.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,530NOK 14.4K
-15.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$6,192NOK 58.3K
-35.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$4,126NOK 38.9K
-49.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$3,607NOK 34.0K
-71.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5
126.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Harstad: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,387 in Harstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harstad pays 248% 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 $109 in Harstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $520 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 Harstad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harstad cheaper than Mexico City?
Mexico City is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Harstad?
On paper, salaries run 248% lower in Harstad. 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 Harstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,387 in Harstad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Harstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Harstad. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Harstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $52.0 versus $109 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $3,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Harstad?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,626 in Harstad, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Harstad. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Harstad more family-friendly?
For families, Mexico City is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Harstad, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Harstad?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Harstad 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 58% less than in Harstad. 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