🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,660 in Mexico City versus $2,802 in Sarpsborg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,565 in Mexico City versus $4,162 in Sarpsborg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,470 in Mexico City versus $5,521 in Sarpsborg.
🌍Living in Mexico City costs roughly 41% less than in Sarpsborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City21% above, Sarpsborg105% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92MX$206
$40.12NOK 378
-70.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6MX$890
$107NOK 1,010
-51.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.41MX$197
$19.57NOK 184
-41.70%
Cappuccino
$3.99MX$68.9
$5.76NOK 54.2
-30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66MX$28.61
$2.90NOK 27.37
-42.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33MX$22.87
$2.65NOK 25.01
-49.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47MX$59.9
$8.82NOK 83.2
-60.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90MX$102
$11.73NOK 111
-49.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.88MX$32.36
$2.36NOK 22.24
-20.34%
White Bread(500g)
$3.25MX$56.1
$3.30NOK 31.09
-1.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.26
$3.76NOK 35.40
-42.55%
Eggs
$2.90MX$49.94
$5.08NOK 47.90
-42.91%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.86MX$222
$12.87NOK 121
-0.08%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.05MX$173
$15.59NOK 147
-35.54%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.86MX$273
$29.86NOK 281
-46.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.29MX$56.8
$3.49NOK 32.90
-5.73%
Banana(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.60
$2.78NOK 26.16
-27.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20MX$37.93
$3.60NOK 33.90
-38.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.36MX$40.63
$4.52NOK 42.58
-47.79%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.43
$2.60NOK 24.51
-21.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.79
$2.98NOK 28.08
-36.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61MX$27.68
$3.11NOK 29.30
-48.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40MX$24.09
$2.33NOK 21.97
-39.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46MX$94.2
$19.68NOK 185
-72.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.65MX$304
$17.86NOK 168
-1.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06MX$35.44
$3.61NOK 34.03
-42.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MX$80.8
$4.32NOK 40.74
8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.34MX$5.84
$2.70NOK 25.46
-87.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.81MX$359
$77.7NOK 732
-73.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.10MX$36.15
$10.98NOK 104
-80.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.64
$1.95NOK 18.39
-71.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.81MX$100
$73.9NOK 696
-92.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.61MX$27.68
$2.18NOK 20.53
-26.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KMX$393.8K
$45.0KNOK 423.6K
-49.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMX$461.2K
$40.2KNOK 378.5K
-33.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.2MX$1,124
$273NOK 2,571
-76.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09MX$519
$30.00NOK 283
0.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18MX$641
$59.3NOK 559
-37.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$59.8MX$1,030
$51.4NOK 484
16.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55MX$458
$32.10NOK 302
-17.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04MX$121
$16.91NOK 159
-58.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$465MX$8,012
$253NOK 2,384
83.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KMX$228.9K
$13.2KNOK 124.2K
0.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9MX$1,308
$97.1NOK 915
-21.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0MX$965
$52.2NOK 492
7.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112MX$1,929
$113NOK 1,065
-1.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121MX$2,078
$182NOK 1,711
-33.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,103MX$19.0K
$1,257NOK 11.8K
-12.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MX$12.4K
$1,038NOK 9,785
-30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,530MX$43.6K
$1,609NOK 15.2K
57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,293MX$22.3K
$1,388NOK 13.1K
-6.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,991MX$68.8K
$6,265NOK 59.0K
-36.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,090MX$36.0K
$4,159NOK 39.2K
-49.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,037MX$17.9K
$2,721NOK 25.6K
-61.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.3
5.18
118.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: September 14, 2026
Last update for Sarpsborg: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,103 in Mexico City and $1,257 in Sarpsborg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sarpsborg pays 162% 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 $107 in Sarpsborg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $345 vs $486 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 Sarpsborg: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and in Sarpsborg?
Mexico City and Sarpsborg differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($1,660 vs $2,802 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 162% lower in Sarpsborg. 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 Sarpsborg?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,103 in Mexico City versus $1,257 in Sarpsborg. 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 Sarpsborg?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 273% less than in Sarpsborg. 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 Sarpsborg?
Childcare runs $465 in Mexico City versus $253 in Sarpsborg. 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 $2,802 in Sarpsborg, a $3,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Sarpsborg. 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 Sarpsborg?
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 Sarpsborg safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Sarpsborg 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 Sarpsborg?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Sarpsborg. 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