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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 City 11% above, Stavanger 101% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.98 MX$227
$25.22 NOK 235
-48.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.1 MX$929
$119 NOK 1,113
-55.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.72 MX$170
$15.32 NOK 143
-36.55%
Cappuccino
$3.75 MX$65.6
$5.05 NOK 47.09
-25.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 MX$27.46
$4.01 NOK 37.36
-60.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.13 MX$19.76
$3.46 NOK 32.25
-67.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 MX$55.7
$11.16 NOK 104
-71.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.66 MX$81.6
$9.94 NOK 92.7
-53.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 MX$28.37
$2.45 NOK 22.84
-33.88%
White Bread (500g)
$2.71 MX$47.36
$3.10 NOK 28.90
-12.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 MX$32.89
$4.61 NOK 42.97
-59.22%
Eggs
$2.51 MX$43.90
$4.34 NOK 40.44
-42.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.08 MX$176
$12.93 NOK 120
-22.04%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.29 MX$145
$16.27 NOK 152
-49.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 MX$209
$27.67 NOK 258
-56.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.86 MX$50.1
$3.41 NOK 31.76
-16.13%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 MX$30.62
$2.62 NOK 24.42
-33.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.08 MX$36.48
$3.01 NOK 28.07
-30.90%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 MX$34.46
$4.55 NOK 42.42
-56.70%
Potato (1kg)
$2.16 MX$37.79
$2.07 NOK 19.28
4.35%
Onion (1kg)
$2.18 MX$38.16
$2.99 NOK 27.85
-27.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.39 MX$24.34
$2.47 NOK 23.00
-43.72%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 MX$19.69
$1.84 NOK 17.14
-39.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.20 MX$73.5
$15.09 NOK 141
-72.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.25 MX$249
$19.20 NOK 179
-25.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76 MX$30.85
$3.55 NOK 33.07
-50.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68 MX$64.5
$4.01 NOK 37.39
-8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.39 MX$6.74
$4.48 NOK 41.78
-91.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.66 MX$327
$66.9 NOK 623
-72.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.39 MX$24.26
$15.00 NOK 140
-90.73%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 MX$5.32
$2.09 NOK 19.44
-85.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.42 MX$94.9
$102 NOK 951
-94.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 MX$23.63
$2.11 NOK 19.66
-36.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.9K MX$330.5K
$33.8K NOK 315.5K
-44.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2K MX$405.2K
$33.0K NOK 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)
$40.82 MX$714
$191 NOK 1,782
-78.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.50 MX$481
$43.15 NOK 402
-36.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.38 MX$532
$80.5 NOK 750
-62.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$53.4 MX$935
$56.0 NOK 522
-4.64%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.30 MX$460
$35.16 NOK 328
-25.20%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 MX$110
$19.31 NOK 180
-67.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$436 MX$7,632
$322 NOK 2,998
35.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K MX$183.2K
$13.2K NOK 123.5K
-20.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.8 MX$993
$117 NOK 1,087
-51.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.79 MX$784
$58.7 NOK 547
-23.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$103 MX$1,799
$107 NOK 994
-3.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108 MX$1,888
$159 NOK 1,484
-32.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,000 MX$17.5K
$1,580 NOK 14.7K
-36.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$620 MX$10.9K
$1,123 NOK 10.5K
-44.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,137 MX$37.4K
$2,783 NOK 25.9K
-23.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,235 MX$21.6K
$1,781 NOK 16.6K
-30.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,865 MX$67.6K
$5,940 NOK 55.4K
-34.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,332 MX$40.8K
$5,361 NOK 50.0K
-56.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,067 MX$18.7K
$5,014 NOK 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.

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