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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $3,564 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $2,499 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $1,435 in Selfoss.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 58% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Selfoss 166% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.98 MX$227

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 MX$929

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.72 MX$170

$20.26 ISK 2,481

-52.02%

Cappuccino

$3.75 MX$65.6

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 MX$27.46

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.13 MX$19.76

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 MX$55.7

$12.03 ISK 1,473

-73.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.66 MX$81.6

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 MX$28.37

$1.74 ISK 213

-6.90%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.36

$7.26 ISK 889

-62.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.88 MX$32.89

$4.53 ISK 555

-58.50%

Eggs

$2.51 MX$43.90

$6.29 ISK 770

-60.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 MX$176

$16.50 ISK 2,021

-38.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.29 MX$145

$20.92 ISK 2,561

-60.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.94 MX$209

$33.41 ISK 4,091

-64.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 MX$50.1

$2.70 ISK 331

5.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.75 MX$30.62

$2.62 ISK 320

-33.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 MX$36.48

$2.57 ISK 314

-19.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.97 MX$34.46

$7.17 ISK 878

-72.52%

Potato (1kg)

$2.16 MX$37.79

$3.19 ISK 391

-32.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 MX$38.16

$2.05 ISK 251

6.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.34

$3.52 ISK 431

-60.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.69

$1.38 ISK 169

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.20 MX$73.5

$14.96 ISK 1,832

-71.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.25 MX$249

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 MX$30.85

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MX$64.5

$1.15 ISK 140

220.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 MX$6.74

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.66 MX$327

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.39 MX$24.26

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 MX$5.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.42 MX$94.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 MX$23.63

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.9K MX$330.5K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$23.2K MX$405.2K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$40.82 MX$714

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$27.50 MX$481

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$532

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.4 MX$935

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.30 MX$460

Cinema Ticket

$6.27 MX$110

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$436 MX$7,632

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.5K MX$183.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 MX$993

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.79 MX$784

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,799

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 MX$1,888

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,000 MX$17.5K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 MX$10.9K

$2,864 ISK 350.7K

-78.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,137 MX$37.4K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MX$21.6K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,865 MX$67.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,332 MX$40.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,067 MX$18.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.34

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: April 28, 2026

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 Selfoss: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mexico City and Selfoss differ by about 140% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $3,564 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,225 in Mexico City and $5,346 in Selfoss to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 78% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,484 per month in Mexico City versus $3,564 in Selfoss – a 140% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,484 in Mexico City versus $3,564 in Selfoss, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Selfoss. The gap between the two cities makes Mexico City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Mexico City and Selfoss are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.