🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,695 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Mexico City versus $4,140 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,278 in Mexico City versus $5,584 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 45% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City11% above, Stavanger101% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98MX$227
$25.22NOK 235
-48.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1MX$929
$119NOK 1,113
-55.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.72MX$170
$15.32NOK 143
-36.55%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$65.6
$5.05NOK 47.09
-25.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57MX$27.46
$4.01NOK 37.36
-60.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.76
$3.46NOK 32.25
-67.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.18MX$55.7
$11.16NOK 104
-71.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66MX$81.6
$9.94NOK 92.7
-53.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62MX$28.37
$2.45NOK 22.84
-33.88%
White Bread(500g)
$2.71MX$47.36
$3.10NOK 28.90
-12.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.88MX$32.89
$4.61NOK 42.97
-59.22%
Eggs
$2.51MX$43.90
$4.34NOK 40.44
-42.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.08MX$176
$12.93NOK 120
-22.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.29MX$145
$16.27NOK 152
-49.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$209
$27.67NOK 258
-56.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MX$50.1
$3.41NOK 31.76
-16.13%
Banana(1kg)
$1.75MX$30.62
$2.62NOK 24.42
-33.21%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.48
$3.01NOK 28.07
-30.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.97MX$34.46
$4.55NOK 42.42
-56.70%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.79
$2.07NOK 19.28
4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$2.18MX$38.16
$2.99NOK 27.85
-27.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39MX$24.34
$2.47NOK 23.00
-43.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12MX$19.69
$1.84NOK 17.14
-39.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$73.5
$15.09NOK 141
-72.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.25MX$249
$19.20NOK 179
-25.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.85
$3.55NOK 33.07
-50.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MX$64.5
$4.01NOK 37.39
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$4.48NOK 41.78
-91.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.66MX$327
$66.9NOK 623
-72.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.39MX$24.26
$15.00NOK 140
-90.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.32
$2.09NOK 19.44
-85.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.42MX$94.9
$102NOK 951
-94.69%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.35MX$23.63
$2.11NOK 19.66
-36.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$330.5K
$33.8KNOK 315.5K
-44.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KMX$405.2K
$33.0KNOK 307.7K
-29.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.82MX$714
$191NOK 1,782
-78.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50MX$481
$43.15NOK 402
-36.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38MX$532
$80.5NOK 750
-62.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.4MX$935
$56.0NOK 522
-4.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30MX$460
$35.16NOK 328
-25.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$110
$19.31NOK 180
-67.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,632
$322NOK 2,998
35.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$183.2K
$13.2KNOK 123.5K
-20.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8MX$993
$117NOK 1,087
-51.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79MX$784
$58.7NOK 547
-23.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,799
$107NOK 994
-3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,888
$159NOK 1,484
-32.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,000MX$17.5K
$1,580NOK 14.7K
-36.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$620MX$10.9K
$1,123NOK 10.5K
-44.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,137MX$37.4K
$2,783NOK 25.9K
-23.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,235MX$21.6K
$1,781NOK 16.6K
-30.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,865MX$67.6K
$5,940NOK 55.4K
-34.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,332MX$40.8K
$5,361NOK 50.0K
-56.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,067MX$18.7K
$5,014NOK 46.7K
-78.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.51
151.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: April 27, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,000 in Mexico City and $1,580 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 370% 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 $119 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $286 vs $470 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 Stavanger: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Stavanger?
Mexico City and Stavanger differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,484 vs $2,695 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, Stavanger earns 370% 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 Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,000 in Mexico City versus $1,580 in Stavanger. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Stavanger?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 258% less than in Stavanger. 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 Stavanger?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $322 in Stavanger. 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 $1,484 in Mexico City versus $2,695 in Stavanger, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Stavanger. 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 Stavanger?
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 Stavanger safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Stavanger 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 Stavanger?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 82% less than in Stavanger. 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