🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,442 in Molde.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $3,697 in Molde.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $4,952 in Molde.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 32% less than in Molde, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Molde79% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$205
$30.59NOK 288
-61.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$886
$85.8NOK 808
-39.84%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$196
$15.94NOK 150
-28.42%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.6
$5.17NOK 48.70
-22.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.48
$3.29NOK 31.01
-49.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.77
$3.58NOK 33.70
-62.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.6
$11.67NOK 110
-70.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$101
$10.52NOK 99.2
-43.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.21
$3.13NOK 29.46
-39.94%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$55.9
$4.23NOK 39.85
-23.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.10
$4.11NOK 38.69
-47.45%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.72
$5.24NOK 49.35
-44.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$221
$18.57NOK 175
-30.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$16.04NOK 151
-37.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$272
-
-
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.6
$3.48NOK 32.76
-5.46%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.44
$3.28NOK 30.89
-38.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.76
$3.08NOK 28.97
-28.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.44
$4.93NOK 46.41
-52.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.27
$2.63NOK 24.80
-22.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.64
$2.43NOK 22.88
-21.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.77NOK 26.05
-41.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$23.98
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$93.8
$20.59NOK 194
-73.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$303
$23.72NOK 223
-25.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.28
$4.17NOK 39.25
-50.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.4
$8.19NOK 77.1
-42.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.81
$5.20NOK 48.98
-93.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$357
$84.8NOK 798
-75.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$35.99
$16.35NOK 154
-87.16%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.60
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$99.8
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.56
$2.31NOK 21.75
-30.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$392.1K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$459.2K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,119
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$517
$21.65NOK 204
38.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$638
$84.4NOK 795
-55.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,026
$59.7NOK 563
0.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$456
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$18.95NOK 178
-62.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$7,976
$214NOK 2,013
117.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$227.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,303
$113NOK 1,060
-32.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$960
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,920
$139NOK 1,305
-19.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,068
$162NOK 1,529
-25.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$18.9K
$1,288NOK 12.1K
-14.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$981NOK 9,241
-26.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.4K
$1,899NOK 17.9K
33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.2K
$1,678NOK 15.8K
-22.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$35.9K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Molde
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.8K
$4,356NOK 41.0K
-76.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
4.8
135.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Molde: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,288 in Molde. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Molde pays 320% 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 $86.0 in Molde for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $429 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 Molde: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Molde?
Mexico City and Molde differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,442 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 320% lower in Molde. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Mexico City and in Molde?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,288 in Molde. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and in Molde?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 307% less than in Molde. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mexico City and Molde?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $214 in Molde. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
At $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,442 in Molde, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Molde. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Mexico City and Molde?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Mexico City or Molde safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Molde are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Mexico City or Molde?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 47% less than in Molde. 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