🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,561 in Sarpsborg.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,310 in Mexico City versus $3,771 in Sarpsborg.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,174 in Mexico City versus $4,982 in Sarpsborg.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 43% less than in Sarpsborg, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City8% above, Sarpsborg91% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$223
$37.65NOK 357
-65.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6MX$903
$92.3NOK 876
-42.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.43MX$162
$18.53NOK 176
-49.11%
Cappuccino
$3.57MX$61.3
$5.28NOK 50.1
-32.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61MX$27.55
$2.68NOK 25.40
-39.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.15MX$19.81
$2.60NOK 24.70
-55.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15MX$54.0
$5.89NOK 55.9
-46.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.86MX$83.4
$7.79NOK 73.9
-37.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.17
$2.26NOK 21.41
-24.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.64MX$45.23
$3.29NOK 31.18
-19.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90MX$32.67
$3.14NOK 29.85
-39.49%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.62
$4.37NOK 41.52
-41.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$173
$11.93NOK 113
-15.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$142
$14.93NOK 142
-44.47%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.57MX$199
$28.14NOK 267
-58.88%
Apples(1kg)
$3.03MX$52.0
$3.60NOK 34.19
-15.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.71MX$29.35
$2.47NOK 23.46
-30.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.05MX$35.16
$3.32NOK 31.54
-38.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.36
$4.35NOK 41.26
-52.64%
Potato(1kg)
$2.06MX$35.43
$2.48NOK 23.58
-16.94%
Onion(1kg)
$2.17MX$37.25
$2.49NOK 23.67
-12.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.08
$2.78NOK 26.37
-49.64%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.26
$1.82NOK 17.24
-38.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.29MX$73.7
$15.31NOK 145
-71.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.41MX$265
$19.10NOK 181
-19.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67MX$28.74
$3.40NOK 32.24
-50.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69MX$63.3
$3.99NOK 37.88
-7.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.55
$2.47NOK 23.40
-84.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.06MX$327
$74.1NOK 703
-74.27%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.70
$10.15NOK 96.3
-86.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.74
$1.40NOK 13.30
-80.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$92.9
$45.99NOK 437
-88.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MX$21.98
$2.14NOK 20.32
-40.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.0KMX$325.8K
$36.1KNOK 342.9K
-47.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.5KMX$402.7K
$38.6KNOK 366.1K
-39.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.02MX$704
$238NOK 2,263
-82.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.92MX$462
$38.10NOK 362
-29.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.69MX$510
$56.1NOK 532
-47.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.3MX$898
$50.1NOK 476
4.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.23MX$450
$36.13NOK 343
-27.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18MX$106
$16.31NOK 155
-62.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427MX$7,331
$284NOK 2,692
50.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.7KMX$183.6K
$10.1KNOK 95.8K
5.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$975
$97.6NOK 926
-41.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83MX$769
$52.8NOK 501
-15.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$105MX$1,794
$109NOK 1,033
-3.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,819
$150NOK 1,421
-29.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$995MX$17.1K
$1,209NOK 11.5K
-17.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$621MX$10.7K
$903NOK 8,572
-31.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126MX$36.5K
$1,492NOK 14.2K
42.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,254MX$21.5K
$1,319NOK 12.5K
-4.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.0K
$6,022NOK 57.2K
-35.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,096MX$36.0K
$4,474NOK 42.5K
-53.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Sarpsborg
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,107MX$19.0K
$2,685NOK 25.5K
-58.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.38
158.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: June 7, 2026
Last update for Sarpsborg: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $995 in Mexico City and $1,209 in Sarpsborg. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Sarpsborg pays 143% 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: $53.0 in Mexico City vs $92.0 in Sarpsborg for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $457 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 Sarpsborg?
Mexico City and Sarpsborg differ by about 77% in total monthly costs ($1,447 vs $2,561 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, Sarpsborg earns 143% less. 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 Sarpsborg?
Rent for a central apartment: $995 in Mexico City versus $1,209 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 Sarpsborg?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 289% 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 $427 in Mexico City versus $284 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 $2,000 per month?
At $1,447 in Mexico City versus $2,561 in Sarpsborg, a $2,000 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 77% 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