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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 City 21% above, Sarpsborg 105% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.92 MX$206
$40.12 NOK 378
-70.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$51.6 MX$890
$107 NOK 1,010
-51.87%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.41 MX$197
$19.57 NOK 184
-41.70%
Cappuccino
$3.99 MX$68.9
$5.76 NOK 54.2
-30.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66 MX$28.61
$2.90 NOK 27.37
-42.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.33 MX$22.87
$2.65 NOK 25.01
-49.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MX$59.9
$8.82 NOK 83.2
-60.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.90 MX$102
$11.73 NOK 111
-49.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 MX$32.36
$2.36 NOK 22.24
-20.34%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 MX$56.1
$3.30 NOK 31.09
-1.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.26
$3.76 NOK 35.40
-42.55%
Eggs
$2.90 MX$49.94
$5.08 NOK 47.90
-42.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.86 MX$222
$12.87 NOK 121
-0.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.05 MX$173
$15.59 NOK 147
-35.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 MX$273
$29.86 NOK 281
-46.89%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 MX$56.8
$3.49 NOK 32.90
-5.73%
Banana (1kg)
$2.01 MX$34.60
$2.78 NOK 26.16
-27.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 MX$37.93
$3.60 NOK 33.90
-38.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.36 MX$40.63
$4.52 NOK 42.58
-47.79%
Potato (1kg)
$2.05 MX$35.43
$2.60 NOK 24.51
-21.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 MX$32.79
$2.98 NOK 28.08
-36.24%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$3.11 NOK 29.30
-48.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 MX$24.09
$2.33 NOK 21.97
-39.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 MX$94.2
$19.68 NOK 185
-72.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.65 MX$304
$17.86 NOK 168
-1.18%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.06 MX$35.44
$3.61 NOK 34.03
-42.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MX$80.8
$4.32 NOK 40.74
8.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 MX$5.84
$2.70 NOK 25.46
-87.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.81 MX$359
$77.7 NOK 732
-73.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 MX$36.15
$10.98 NOK 104
-80.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.56 MX$9.64
$1.95 NOK 18.39
-71.28%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.81 MX$100
$73.9 NOK 696
-92.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.61 MX$27.68
$2.18 NOK 20.53
-26.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K MX$393.8K
$45.0K NOK 423.6K
-49.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MX$461.2K
$40.2K NOK 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)
$65.2 MX$1,124
$273 NOK 2,571
-76.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.09 MX$519
$30.00 NOK 283
0.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 MX$641
$59.3 NOK 559
-37.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$59.8 MX$1,030
$51.4 NOK 484
16.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.55 MX$458
$32.10 NOK 302
-17.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.04 MX$121
$16.91 NOK 159
-58.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$465 MX$8,012
$253 NOK 2,384
83.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K MX$228.9K
$13.2K NOK 124.2K
0.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.9 MX$1,308
$97.1 NOK 915
-21.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.0 MX$965
$52.2 NOK 492
7.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 MX$1,929
$113 NOK 1,065
-1.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 MX$2,078
$182 NOK 1,711
-33.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MX$19.0K
$1,257 NOK 11.8K
-12.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$721 MX$12.4K
$1,038 NOK 9,785
-30.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,530 MX$43.6K
$1,609 NOK 15.2K
57.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,293 MX$22.3K
$1,388 NOK 13.1K
-6.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,991 MX$68.8K
$6,265 NOK 59.0K
-36.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,090 MX$36.0K
$4,159 NOK 39.2K
-49.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,037 MX$17.9K
$2,721 NOK 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.

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