🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,422 in Harstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $3,693 in Harstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $4,965 in Harstad.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 39% less than in Harstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Harstad81% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$230
$13.57NOK 128
-2.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$941
$119NOK 1,129
-54.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$165
$15.33NOK 145
-38.55%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$62.0
$6.05NOK 57.2
-41.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.25
$3.45NOK 32.61
-53.04%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.46
$2.99NOK 28.30
-62.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.5
$11.22NOK 106
-72.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.9
$11.32NOK 107
-59.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.71
$2.32NOK 21.90
-26.72%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.47
$3.15NOK 29.82
-13.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.39
$3.00NOK 28.35
-36.33%
Eggs
$2.54MX$44.29
$4.18NOK 39.48
-39.23%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$175
$10.56NOK 99.9
-5.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$141
$14.92NOK 141
-45.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$203
$37.12NOK 351
-68.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.8
$4.06NOK 38.37
-26.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.55
$2.68NOK 25.35
-32.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$35.16
$3.46NOK 32.74
-41.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.54
$4.67NOK 44.15
-56.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$37.10
$1.99NOK 18.86
6.53%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.63
$1.98NOK 18.72
14.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.45
$2.77NOK 26.23
-49.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.74
$1.79NOK 16.90
-36.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$74.6
$15.21NOK 144
-71.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$272
$16.00NOK 151
-2.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.68
$3.56NOK 33.64
-50.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.8
$4.50NOK 42.56
-20.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.69
$5.95NOK 56.3
-93.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$335
$81.5NOK 771
-76.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$24.03
$12.47NOK 118
-88.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.83
$1.44NOK 13.57
-80.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$95.1
$51.3NOK 485
-89.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.77
$2.11NOK 19.96
-38.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$326.4K
$33.6KNOK 317.9K
-44.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$404.0K
$30.8KNOK 291.6K
-25.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$714
$160NOK 1,509
-74.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$468
$33.10NOK 313
-19.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$523
$77.0NOK 728
-61.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$908
$49.67NOK 470
4.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$469
$36.08NOK 341
-25.61%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$110
$16.99NOK 161
-62.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,617
$329NOK 3,110
32.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$181.9K
$5,131NOK 48.5K
103.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$989
$77.2NOK 730
-26.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$775
$33.44NOK 316
32.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,798
$118NOK 1,113
-12.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,843
$134NOK 1,269
-21.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.8K
$1,330NOK 12.6K
-23.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$11.0K
$1,004NOK 9,490
-37.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$37.3K
$2,212NOK 20.9K
-3.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.7K
$1,494NOK 14.1K
-16.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$68.2K
$6,005NOK 56.8K
-35.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$36.1K
$4,540NOK 42.9K
-54.53%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.5K
$3,581NOK 33.9K
-68.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.27
165.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Harstad: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,330 in Harstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harstad pays 221% 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 $119 in Harstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $476 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 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Mexico City or Harstad?
On paper, Harstad earns 221% 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 Harstad?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,330 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 Harstad?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% 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 Harstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $119 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Mexico City or Harstad?
At $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,422 in Harstad, a $2,000 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 65% 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