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: $1,472 in Mexico City versus $3,462 in Selfoss.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,359 in Mexico City versus $2,428 in Selfoss.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,245 in Mexico City versus $1,394 in Selfoss.

Living in Mexico City costs roughly 57% less than in Selfoss, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City 11% above, Selfoss 160% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.14 MX$229

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 MX$934

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 MX$163

$20.38 ISK 2,535

-54.22%

Cappuccino

$3.70 MX$64.5

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

$1.60 MX$27.98

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.49

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 MX$54.7

$11.83 ISK 1,472

-73.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 MX$84.5

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 MX$28.84

$1.74 ISK 216

-5.17%

White Bread (500g)

$2.71 MX$47.34

$7.09 ISK 882

-61.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 MX$33.29

$4.28 ISK 532

-55.37%

Eggs

$2.59 MX$45.17

$6.43 ISK 800

-59.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 MX$171

$16.96 ISK 2,110

-42.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.43 MX$147

$20.63 ISK 2,566

-59.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MX$208

$32.75 ISK 4,073

-63.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MX$51.5

$2.69 ISK 335

9.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 MX$30.35

$2.65 ISK 330

-34.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 MX$35.66

$2.61 ISK 325

-21.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.06 MX$35.93

$7.27 ISK 904

-71.66%

Potato (1kg)

$2.15 MX$37.49

$3.18 ISK 395

-32.39%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 MX$39.33

$2.07 ISK 257

9.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.39 MX$24.17

$3.56 ISK 443

-60.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.12 MX$19.47

$1.38 ISK 172

-18.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.22 MX$73.6

$15.41 ISK 1,916

-72.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.51 MX$305

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 MX$29.82

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 MX$63.4

$1.14 ISK 142

218.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 MX$6.15

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$19.32 MX$337

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.38 MX$24.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.28 MX$4.81

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 MX$92.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.36 MX$23.69

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

$19.1K MX$333.2K

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

$23.6K MX$411.7K

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

$40.53 MX$707

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

$27.38 MX$478

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.38 MX$530

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.2 MX$911

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$26.48 MX$462

Cinema Ticket

$6.19 MX$108

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

$425 MX$7,414

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K MX$187.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.3 MX$1,017

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.57 MX$777

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 MX$1,805

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 MX$1,897

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 MX$17.7K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$623 MX$10.9K

$2,903 ISK 361.1K

-78.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,119 MX$37.0K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 MX$21.3K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,792 MX$66.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,110 MX$36.8K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,052 MX$18.4K

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: July 25, 2026

Last update for Selfoss: July 25, 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 135% in total monthly costs ($1,472 vs $3,462 including rent). Mexico City is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

You'd need roughly $2,208 in Mexico City and $5,192 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 73% higher in Selfoss. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,472 per month in Mexico City versus $3,462 in Selfoss – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,472 in Mexico City versus $3,462 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 135% less than in Selfoss. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.