🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,470 in Harstad.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,352 in Mexico City versus $3,732 in Harstad.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,222 in Mexico City versus $4,993 in Harstad.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 40% less than in Harstad, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Harstad85% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.16MX$229
$13.58NOK 130
-3.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6MX$934
$121NOK 1,156
-55.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.55MX$167
$15.25NOK 146
-37.38%
Cappuccino
$3.72MX$64.9
$6.21NOK 59.4
-40.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.33
$3.62NOK 34.61
-56.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.16
$3.12NOK 29.83
-62.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.5
$10.99NOK 105
-71.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.8
$11.23NOK 108
-58.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71MX$29.74
$2.45NOK 23.41
-30.20%
White Bread(500g)
$2.62MX$45.63
$3.30NOK 31.58
-20.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.93
$3.02NOK 28.88
-37.42%
Eggs
$2.60MX$45.26
$4.14NOK 39.66
-37.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.91MX$173
$10.47NOK 100
-5.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.22MX$143
$15.42NOK 148
-46.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.78MX$205
$37.05NOK 355
-68.21%
Apples(1kg)
$3.00MX$52.2
$4.05NOK 38.80
-25.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.80MX$31.38
$2.66NOK 25.51
-32.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.16
$3.53NOK 33.77
-41.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.30
$4.65NOK 44.48
-57.63%
Potato(1kg)
$2.07MX$36.13
$2.06NOK 19.70
0.49%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.92
$1.98NOK 18.93
9.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.46
$2.67NOK 25.57
-47.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07MX$18.74
$1.76NOK 16.85
-39.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12MX$71.8
$14.92NOK 143
-72.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.42MX$304
$15.83NOK 152
10.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$29.22
$3.48NOK 33.29
-51.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.65MX$63.6
$4.70NOK 44.96
-22.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.63
$6.11NOK 58.5
-93.78%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.71MX$326
$79.3NOK 759
-76.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.18
$12.53NOK 120
-89.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.28
$1.40NOK 13.42
-78.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.51MX$96.1
$50.8NOK 486
-89.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.31MX$22.76
$2.14NOK 20.50
-38.79%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KMX$334.2K
$33.3KNOK 319.0K
-42.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.7KMX$414.1K
$30.4KNOK 291.0K
-21.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.14MX$717
$162NOK 1,552
-74.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.74MX$484
$32.24NOK 309
-13.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.13MX$525
$76.7NOK 734
-60.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.7MX$937
$48.64NOK 466
10.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.98MX$453
$35.38NOK 339
-26.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49MX$113
$16.78NOK 161
-61.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$437MX$7,614
$334NOK 3,194
30.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.3K
$5,159NOK 49.4K
102.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.3MX$1,017
$75.0NOK 718
-22.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.86MX$800
$33.21NOK 318
38.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101MX$1,769
$118NOK 1,131
-14.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107MX$1,858
$136NOK 1,303
-21.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,005MX$17.5K
$1,298NOK 12.4K
-22.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$634MX$11.0K
$1,006NOK 9,627
-37.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,148MX$37.5K
$2,189NOK 20.9K
-1.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,247MX$21.7K
$1,471NOK 14.1K
-15.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,859MX$67.3K
$5,805NOK 55.6K
-33.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,085MX$36.3K
$3,967NOK 38.0K
-47.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,072MX$18.7K
$3,370NOK 32.3K
-68.18%
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: July 22, 2026
Last update for Harstad: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,005 in Mexico City and $1,298 in Harstad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Harstad pays 214% 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 $121 in Harstad for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $291 vs $480 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 67% 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 214% 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: $1,005 in Mexico City versus $1,298 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 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 in Harstad?
Dining out is cheaper in Mexico City – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $121 in Harstad. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Harstad?
At $1,481 in Mexico City versus $2,470 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 67% 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