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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 City 21% above, Harstad 92% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$206
$14.17 NOK 134
-15.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$890
$109 NOK 1,027
-52.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$16.17 NOK 152
-29.44%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.9
$6.56 NOK 61.9
-39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.61
$3.84 NOK 36.18
-56.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.87
$3.18 NOK 29.98
-58.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.9
$12.72 NOK 120
-72.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$13.91 NOK 131
-57.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.36
$2.58 NOK 24.32
-27.13%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$3.48 NOK 32.77
-6.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.26
$3.30 NOK 31.06
-34.55%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.94
$4.58 NOK 43.18
-36.68%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$222
$11.19 NOK 105
14.92%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$15.09 NOK 142
-33.40%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$42.47 NOK 400
-62.66%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.8
$4.24 NOK 39.94
-22.41%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.60
$2.94 NOK 27.73
-31.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.93
$3.82 NOK 35.95
-42.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.63
$4.79 NOK 45.12
-50.73%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.43
$2.16 NOK 20.37
-5.09%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.79
$2.17 NOK 20.48
-12.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$3.02 NOK 28.50
-46.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.09
$2.41 NOK 22.71
-41.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.2
$16.82 NOK 158
-67.54%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$15.81 NOK 149
11.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.44
$4.04 NOK 38.03
-49.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$4.98 NOK 46.97
-6.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.84
$6.22 NOK 58.6
-94.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$359
$84.4 NOK 796
-75.36%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.15
$16.02 NOK 151
-86.89%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.64
$1.84 NOK 17.32
-69.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
$56.9 NOK 536
-89.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$2.25 NOK 21.20
-28.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.8K
$37.6K NOK 354.3K
-39.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$461.2K
$32.0K NOK 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)
$65.2 MX$1,124
$168 NOK 1,582
-61.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$519
$34.80 NOK 328
-13.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$641
$81.9 NOK 771
-54.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,030
$51.1 NOK 482
16.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$458
$37.78 NOK 356
-29.72%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$17.55 NOK 165
-59.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,012
$246 NOK 2,319
88.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.9K
$5,377 NOK 50.7K
146.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,308
$68.7 NOK 647
10.53%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$965
$36.02 NOK 339
55.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,929
$124 NOK 1,170
-9.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,078
$168 NOK 1,580
-28.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$1,387 NOK 13.1K
-20.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$1,092 NOK 10.3K
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$2,321 NOK 21.9K
8.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$1,530 NOK 14.4K
-15.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.8K
$6,192 NOK 58.3K
-35.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$4,126 NOK 38.9K
-49.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Harstad
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
$3,607 NOK 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.

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