🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,773 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,354 in Mexico City versus $4,172 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,260 in Mexico City versus $5,570 in Stavanger.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 48% less than in Stavanger, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City9% above, Stavanger108% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.96MX$223
$25.16NOK 238
-48.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.3MX$900
$120NOK 1,137
-56.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.69MX$167
$14.88NOK 141
-34.88%
Cappuccino
$3.75MX$64.6
$5.21NOK 49.33
-28.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56MX$26.91
$3.91NOK 37.04
-60.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$19.93
$3.35NOK 31.75
-65.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.24MX$55.8
$10.96NOK 104
-70.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.90MX$84.3
$10.32NOK 97.8
-52.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.29
$2.34NOK 22.21
-27.35%
White Bread(500g)
$2.67MX$45.90
$3.14NOK 29.78
-14.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.89MX$32.49
$4.45NOK 42.15
-57.53%
Eggs
$2.52MX$43.37
$4.47NOK 42.30
-43.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.02MX$172
$13.02NOK 123
-23.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.53MX$147
$16.38NOK 155
-47.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.94MX$205
$27.93NOK 265
-57.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.1
$3.59NOK 34.00
-17.27%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MX$30.88
$2.55NOK 24.13
-29.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.40
$3.06NOK 28.99
-34.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96MX$33.74
$4.74NOK 44.89
-58.65%
Potato(1kg)
$2.16MX$37.21
$2.15NOK 20.36
0.47%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.04
$2.91NOK 27.57
-21.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.14
$2.53NOK 23.96
-44.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.18
$1.74NOK 16.51
-36.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20MX$72.2
$14.98NOK 142
-71.96%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.54MX$285
$18.43NOK 175
-10.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68MX$28.94
$3.62NOK 34.32
-53.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59MX$61.8
$4.14NOK 39.23
-13.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.65
$4.45NOK 42.11
-91.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.19MX$330
$68.1NOK 645
-71.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.77
$15.31NOK 145
-90.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.30MX$5.19
$2.13NOK 20.21
-85.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.39MX$92.7
$100NOK 951
-94.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.29MX$22.13
$2.22NOK 21.07
-41.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9KMX$325.1K
$34.2KNOK 324.3K
-44.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$409.5K
$33.3KNOK 315.6K
-28.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$39.86MX$686
$191NOK 1,812
-79.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.83MX$479
$42.07NOK 398
-33.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.77MX$512
$81.5NOK 772
-63.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$894
$55.9NOK 530
-7.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.22MX$451
$35.10NOK 332
-25.30%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27MX$108
$18.95NOK 180
-66.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$433MX$7,443
$314NOK 2,976
37.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$181.3K
$12.8KNOK 121.5K
-17.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0MX$981
$117NOK 1,110
-51.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.33MX$780
$60.1NOK 569
-24.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102MX$1,753
$105NOK 994
-2.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109MX$1,867
$156NOK 1,480
-30.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$994MX$17.1K
$1,591NOK 15.1K
-37.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$617MX$10.6K
$1,148NOK 10.9K
-46.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,086MX$35.9K
$2,775NOK 26.3K
-24.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,256MX$21.6K
$1,773NOK 16.8K
-29.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,936MX$67.7K
$6,070NOK 57.5K
-35.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,089MX$35.9K
$5,176NOK 49.0K
-59.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,131MX$19.5K
$4,897NOK 46.4K
-76.90%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $994 in Mexico City and $1,591 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 333% 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 $120 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $471 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 91% in total monthly costs ($1,448 vs $2,773 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 333% 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: $994 in Mexico City versus $1,591 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 255% 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 $433 in Mexico City versus $314 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 $1,448 in Mexico City versus $2,773 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 91% 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