🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,929 in Tromso.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,371 in Mexico City versus $4,342 in Tromso.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,274 in Mexico City versus $5,756 in Tromso.
🙂Living in Mexico City costs roughly 50% less than in Tromso, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Mexico City10% above, Tromso119% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.18MX$228
$32.45NOK 301
-59.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9MX$932
$121NOK 1,124
-55.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42MX$163
$15.08NOK 140
-37.53%
Cappuccino
$3.55MX$61.4
$6.17NOK 57.4
-42.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$27.98
$4.58NOK 42.52
-64.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11MX$19.27
$3.44NOK 31.97
-67.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12MX$54.0
$11.21NOK 104
-72.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63MX$80.1
$11.08NOK 103
-58.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70MX$29.43
$2.42NOK 22.45
-29.75%
White Bread(500g)
$2.72MX$47.02
$3.17NOK 29.42
-14.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.91MX$33.07
$3.28NOK 30.46
-41.77%
Eggs
$2.54MX$43.86
$4.92NOK 45.72
-48.37%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.03MX$174
$11.34NOK 105
-11.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.09MX$140
$15.48NOK 144
-47.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62MX$201
$37.09NOK 345
-68.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.97MX$51.3
$3.92NOK 36.42
-24.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.24
$2.88NOK 26.78
-37.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.01MX$34.82
$3.75NOK 34.82
-46.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.03MX$35.20
$5.12NOK 47.54
-60.35%
Potato(1kg)
$2.12MX$36.75
$3.08NOK 28.65
-31.17%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.25
$3.63NOK 33.72
-37.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.40MX$24.22
$2.69NOK 24.98
-47.96%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.13MX$19.55
$1.70NOK 15.80
-33.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27MX$73.9
$15.05NOK 140
-71.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.56MX$269
$19.06NOK 177
-18.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.76MX$30.39
$3.64NOK 33.78
-51.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60MX$62.2
$4.54NOK 42.14
-20.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.38MX$6.62
$4.79NOK 44.49
-92.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.18MX$332
$59.6NOK 553
-67.81%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.38MX$23.79
$12.88NOK 120
-89.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.78
$1.13NOK 10.46
-75.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.45MX$94.2
$52.1NOK 484
-89.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.30MX$22.55
$2.11NOK 19.63
-38.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.7KMX$323.2K
$32.6KNOK 302.8K
-42.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KMX$400.1K
$35.8KNOK 332.2K
-35.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.86MX$707
$245NOK 2,279
-83.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81MX$464
$48.71NOK 453
-44.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.96MX$518
$77.2NOK 717
-61.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.0MX$900
$47.87NOK 445
8.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.84MX$464
$39.54NOK 367
-32.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.30MX$109
$16.73NOK 155
-62.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$436MX$7,544
$336NOK 3,118
29.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.4KMX$180.2K
$7,362NOK 68.4K
41.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.7MX$980
$87.7NOK 815
-35.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.38MX$768
$33.00NOK 307
34.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$103MX$1,780
$131NOK 1,215
-21.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106MX$1,825
$135NOK 1,258
-22.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,022MX$17.7K
$1,348NOK 12.5K
-24.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$631MX$10.9K
$1,268NOK 11.8K
-50.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,136MX$36.9K
$2,614NOK 24.3K
-18.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,243MX$21.5K
$1,853NOK 17.2K
-32.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,903MX$67.5K
$9,264NOK 86.1K
-57.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,064MX$35.7K
$5,545NOK 51.5K
-62.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Tromso
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,115MX$19.3K
$4,243NOK 39.4K
-73.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
4.27
165.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: May 31, 2026
Last update for Tromso: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,022 in Mexico City and $1,348 in Tromso. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Tromso pays 281% 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: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $121 in Tromso for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $288 vs $502 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 Tromso: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Mexico City and Tromso?
Mexico City and Tromso differ by about 100% in total monthly costs ($1,467 vs $2,929 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, Tromso earns 281% 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 Tromso?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,022 in Mexico City versus $1,348 in Tromso. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Mexico City and Tromso?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 211% less than in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
Childcare runs $436 in Mexico City versus $336 in Tromso. 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 $1,467 in Mexico City versus $2,929 in Tromso, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Mexico City but tight or insufficient in Tromso. 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 Tromso?
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 Tromso safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Tromso 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 Tromso?
Expats usually find Mexico City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 100% less than in Tromso. 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