🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,682 in Mexico City versus $3,218 in Stavanger.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,599 in Mexico City versus $4,688 in Stavanger.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,516 in Mexico City versus $6,159 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 City23% above, Stavanger135% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.83MX$200
$25.87NOK 242
-54.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.2MX$884
$96.6NOK 902
-46.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.87MX$184
$15.77NOK 147
-31.07%
Cappuccino
$4.03MX$68.2
$6.34NOK 59.2
-36.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.71MX$28.99
$5.42NOK 50.6
-68.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34MX$22.70
$4.47NOK 41.76
-70.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.39MX$57.5
$13.85NOK 129
-75.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.74MX$97.3
$12.25NOK 114
-53.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89MX$31.99
$2.36NOK 22.03
-19.92%
White Bread(500g)
$3.17MX$53.8
$3.64NOK 33.96
-12.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.74
$3.92NOK 36.60
-47.70%
Eggs
$3.01MX$51.1
$4.95NOK 46.20
-39.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.61MX$214
$14.89NOK 139
-15.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.94MX$169
$16.94NOK 158
-41.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.00MX$271
$36.00NOK 336
-55.56%
Apples(1kg)
$3.28MX$55.6
$3.60NOK 33.65
-8.89%
Banana(1kg)
$2.06MX$34.87
$2.79NOK 26.06
-26.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09MX$35.36
$3.57NOK 33.32
-41.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.50MX$42.44
$4.84NOK 45.23
-48.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.05MX$34.76
$2.54NOK 23.75
-19.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87MX$31.70
$3.18NOK 29.74
-41.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.57MX$26.66
$2.86NOK 26.68
-45.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.39MX$23.64
$2.38NOK 22.19
-41.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.38MX$91.2
$17.32NOK 162
-68.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.95MX$304
$18.61NOK 174
-3.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02MX$34.31
$3.92NOK 36.60
-48.47%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.76MX$80.7
$4.64NOK 43.31
2.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36MX$6.13
$4.85NOK 45.32
-92.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.80MX$353
$81.3NOK 759
-74.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.06MX$34.92
$6.44NOK 60.1
-68.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.56MX$9.55
$1.72NOK 16.08
-67.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.82MX$98.6
$104NOK 974
-94.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MX$26.05
$2.27NOK 21.23
-32.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.5KMX$380.6K
$49.3KNOK 460.3K
-54.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KMX$448.7K
$42.5KNOK 397.3K
-37.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.0MX$1,118
$254NOK 2,375
-74.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$30.98MX$525
$35.83NOK 335
-13.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.20MX$613
$83.3NOK 778
-56.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.5MX$975
$52.1NOK 486
10.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.75MX$453
$37.77NOK 353
-29.18%
Cinema Ticket
$7.13MX$121
$22.24NOK 208
-67.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$457MX$7,738
$326NOK 3,043
40.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.2KMX$224.5K
$14.3KNOK 133.5K
-7.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$75.8MX$1,285
$126NOK 1,181
-40.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.1MX$917
$59.6NOK 557
-9.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116MX$1,974
$156NOK 1,457
-25.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122MX$2,063
$207NOK 1,936
-41.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147MX$19.4K
$1,732NOK 16.2K
-33.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$726MX$12.3K
$1,379NOK 12.9K
-47.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,503MX$42.4K
$2,747NOK 25.7K
-8.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,331MX$22.6K
$2,094NOK 19.6K
-36.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,895MX$66.0K
$6,334NOK 59.2K
-38.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,149MX$36.4K
$5,318NOK 49.7K
-59.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Stavanger
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069MX$18.1K
$5,107NOK 47.7K
-79.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.35
5.27
115.37%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: August 17, 2026
Last update for Stavanger: August 18, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,147 in Mexico City and $1,732 in Stavanger. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Stavanger pays 378% 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 $97.0 in Stavanger for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $344 vs $526 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 in Stavanger?
Mexico City and Stavanger differ by about 91% in total monthly costs ($1,682 vs $3,218 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, salaries run 378% lower in Stavanger. 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 in Stavanger?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,147 in Mexico City versus $1,732 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 in Stavanger?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 291% 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 $457 in Mexico City versus $326 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 $3,000 per month?
At $1,682 in Mexico City versus $3,218 in Stavanger, a $3,000 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